Healthy Routes

05/28/2026

As teens head into the summer months, many parents find themselves navigating a tricky balance between independence, safety, social pressures, boundaries, technology, freedom, and simply trying to stay connected with their teen through it all.

I’m really looking forward to partnering with Cst. Sarah Marcantonio of the Ottawa Police Youth Division for an honest and relaxed online parent conversation around teens, summer, and safety in our community.

The evening is designed to be a practical and approachable conversation where parents can gain perspective, ask questions, and walk away feeling more informed, supported, and prepared for the summer months ahead.

Whether your teen is entering high school, spending more time out with friends, online more often, or simply craving more independence, this conversation is meant to support parents through the realities of this stage of life.

📅 Thursday, June 11th
🕢 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
💻 Online via Zoom

Limited spots available • Registration required

🔗 Register here: https://www.healthyroutes.ca/workshops

04/23/2026

Ontario parents — this one is for you.

The attendance conversation happening in our schools right now is missing something important.

I wrote about it this week. If it resonates, please share it. The more people who see this — or if it finds its way into the right hands to spark real change — the better this conversation gets.

Would love to hear your thoughts.

Ontario's attendance crisis isn't about motivation. As a family addiction counsellor and life skills educator, what I hear from teenagers is simpler and more urgent — they don't have the social and interpersonal skills to walk through the door. Here's what we're missing.

04/21/2026

Frank is celebrating his 1-year anniversary…
so we’re giving away ANOTHER FREE COPY this week📚

Last week we had ONE person comment 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗞
So let’s see if we can get a little more competition this time.😅

𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗲𝗱?
👇 Comment 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗞 to enter
I’ll be drawing the winner Friday 👀

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀?
Not quite… adults are reading it too—and having their own A-ha moments 😏

𝗔𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘁?
Your words matter more than mine—
if you’ve read it, share a quick thought or review below and help someone else jump in and comment 𝗙𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗞.

Let’s turn this into a real giveaway this time!! See you Friday.😊

04/19/2026

𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀💛
We wait for the “right moment” to connect… it’s usually already happening in the ordinary.
👉A car ride.
👉A laugh.
👉A moment in the kitchen
That’s where the real connection lives.
Wishing you all a great week ahead. 😀

04/17/2026

ANNND this might be my most intense giveaway yet 😂
You might want to sit down for this…

I posted a “comment to win” giveaway…

and we got ONE comment 😅

Which officially makes this the easiest giveaway I’ve ever done 😂

CONGRATS🎉 to Chantal Loyer—you had a 100% chance of winning, and Frank has been sitting on the shelf just waiting to make his way into your house 😄

I hope you LOVE it as much as I LOVED writing it.

Not Today, Frank! is officially yours 📚Send me a message so I can get it to you!

Alright followers… let’s not repeat that performance next week 😂
I’ll be running another book giveaway, so don’t sit this one out.

Let’s see if we can give Chantal a little competition next round 😏

04/15/2026

It’s been 🅾🅽🅴 year since 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙁𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙠! was released 🎉

So… I’m giving away a copy!

It was written for teens—but honestly, adults are loving it just as much.

Comment "𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐊" if you want in.

I’ll be randomly drawing one name from the list on Friday 👀

If you’ve been here quietly following along—don’t let Frank convince you to scroll past this.💛

Happy Hump Day!!!

04/14/2026

⚠ Last chance—Parent Anxiety Online Workshop is tomorrow night.

This is one you don’t want to miss. If you’re seeing worry, shutdowns, or overwhelm and not sure how to respond, this will give you real clarity and tools you can actually use.

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱.
Register here: www.healthyroutes.ca/workshops

04/13/2026

🎉 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗸’𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆🎉

My book just turned ONE… and Frank has been relentless about it 😄

🫣He keeps showing up.
🤫Repeating himself.
🥴Not letting it go—

“𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘑𝘦𝘯… 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺… 𝘭𝘦𝘵’𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺… 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺… 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘵… 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳…”

Yep… that’s exactly what anxiety sounds like.
And nope—Frank is not letting this go 😄

Over the next two weeks, I’m giving away 2 copies of 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙁𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙠!

𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧? 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐨:
Either
✔️ Like this post
✔️ Comment “Not Today, Frank!”
✔️ Tag someone who might need this—parent, teen… or let’s be real, an adult who could use this too!

I’ll be drawing 2 winners over the next two weeks 📖
Follow along and keep an eye on your messages and this page to see if you’re a winner.

04/12/2026

Soulful Sundays 💛
This week, notice where you are 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿-𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳.

Sometimes that comes 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩.
Sometimes it comes from 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙.

Not every choice needs permission.
Some just need your trust.🫶

Have a good week everyone!

04/11/2026

ONE YEAR of 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙏𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮, 𝙁𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙠!🎉
And wow… what a year it’s been!

Frank and I have been busy—working alongside kids, teens, and families, helping them face the thoughts that hold them back, build confidence, and step into who they’re becoming.

And we’re not done!!
We’re continuing this work all month long 💛
→ Parent workshops
→ Youth workshops
→ And something new dropping tomorrow…

Because every birthday needs a little celebration…
Frank insisted we do a giveaway.

I will be announcing this in the days ahead! 🎁

Enjoy your weekend everyone!😀

www.healthyroutes.ca