One Connected Experience
I never expected to be raising a child again.
When my granddaughter Emma came into my care, I found myself navigating assessments, school meetings, specialist appointments, and daily challenges while trying to understand how best to support a child living with ADHD, Tourette’s, and developmental differences.
At times, it felt like I was hitting a wall at every turn. I knew Emma needed support, but I wasn’t always sure where to start or how to bring everyone together around her.
Through Camino’s Polaris program, our family completed an assessment that helped identify our needs and establish goals that felt meaningful to us.
I connected with family services, advocacy resources, and a grandparents group.
Participating in the Circle of Security program changed the way I understood Emma’s behaviour. Instead of asking “What’s wrong?” I began asking, “What might she need?”
For years, I focused on caring for everyone else.
Through Polaris and the grandparents group, I began to recognize the importance of caring for my wellbeing too. I started accessing counselling for myself and learned that caring for Emma also meant caring for me.
The Polaris team also helped bring people together around Emma. They facilitated conversations with educators, healthcare providers, and family members so the adults in her life could better understand her needs and work together on her behalf.
One of the most meaningful parts of the journey was realizing that I wasn’t the only grandparent walking this path.
Today, I feel more confident advocating for Emma, more connected to my community, and better equipped to help her thrive.
