My name is Leslie Headley and I have lived in Windsor my whole life.
I would like to share my journey with you in hopes that I can help raise awareness and raise funds for children with disabilities in our community. I started working with a little boy through Family Respite Services when I was in my 2nd year of the Child and Youth Worker Program at St. Clair College. This young boy was non-verbal and diagnosed with Autism. This respite part time job changed me forever and really opened my eyes to the gifts that children with disabilities have.
I absolutely loved working with this sweet little boy. I would pick him up from daycare, bring him home to play and learn, make dinner for the two of us, clean up and get him ready for bed. It's like I was an extension of his family. We learned so much about each other and had fun doing it. That family eventually moved away, asked me to move with them so that I could be their Nanny and also continue to provide respite. I had to politely decline as I was still a student and needed to finish my schooling, plus I love Windsor and didn't plan on moving out of the city!

Over the last 8 years I continued to work with 4 other families through Family Respite Services and had the opportunity to make an impact in all of their lives. I went on to have my own family and the last little girl that I provided respite for is no longer a "little girl", but I am extremely happy to say that the family and I still keep in contact often. When I see her, I can't believe how much she has grown. This young lady has turned into an amazing young woman who has come so far, this makes my heart so happy!

I know that respite providers are there to provide the family with "respite time" and to help the children with different tasks and skills, BUT the experience that I had working with children with disabilities was invaluable. I learned so much from the children that I worked with, I believe this has made me a better person, especially a better mom. Family Respite Services and the families and children provided me with a once in a life time opportunity, and in return I want to give back.

I recently opened From Bean to Sprout, a children and maternity consignment boutique at 3749 Tecumseh Rd. I wanted to open a business in Windsor because I have strong roots in this community. I enjoy consignment shopping because it's great quality clothing/ items at a fraction of the price, so it only made sense for me to open a consignment business! I hope that parents in Windsor/ Essex County can benefit from consignment shopping because it's the stylish and affordable way to shop!

From now until Oct. 4th, bring your consignment items to the store. When the items are sold you will receive 40% of the selling price and 10% of the selling price will ensure that children with disabilities continue to have a respite provider and have the same opportunities as their peers!

Leslie Headley, Owner of From Bean to Sprout, 226-674-2626

Alexandria Fischer, Fundraising Coordinator, Family Respite Services www.familyrespite.org
519-972-9688 x 156 afischer@familyrespite.org

Link: www.facebook.com/frombeantosprout?fref=ts

Yesterday while at Wilistead Park, I saw you. The mom with the obviously tired little boy on the red bike with the blue helmet. I watched as he lost his temper and manners with you and other children. I watched as you calmly walked over to him, explained his mistakes and made him own up to them. I watched as you made him apologize to the other children and explained to him why he was apologizing to them. I saw you attempt, through much protest on his part, to get him to apologize to the parents of the other children. I watched as he threw a temper tantrum, screaming and yelling the whole time, while you were calm.
I want to let you know I saw you take deep breathes and remain calm when I myself wouldn't have been able to. I watched as you gave him warnings before you punished him by taking way privileges, followed through with those warnings and removed those privileges.
I want you to know I heard him yelling that "you are not a nice person " for taking away those privileges. I saw you apologize to the other parents for your child's behaviour, I saw you trying not to cry out of frustration. I saw you handle all of this without raising your voice, resorting to anything other than calm words and patience.
I watched as you took a deep breath, got on your bike and rode home with him crying the whole way with you looking defeated.
I want you to know you were spotted super mom. You were spotted being strong. You were spotted being loving. You were spotted being patient and calm in a tantrum tornado. I want you to know you are not defeated, you were victorious in showing him how to properly handle these situations. You were spotted teaching him how he should and shouldn't treat friends. And you are not alone.
Be proud of yourself, and have faith in what you are doing. Know that you are not alone, alot of parents fight this battle every day. You have been spotted mom. You are loved and you love him, even if he doesn't always seem like he knows it. He does.
I want you to know you did a great job mom. You have been spotted.

I spotted this post by the LaSalle Police Service about a woman in LaSalle who lost her engagement ring and thought I would send it to you guys to hopefully help this lady find her ring.

Hi there! I want to Spot Windsor Fire for helping a lady whose car broke down on Dougall Ave yesterday. They got out of the truck and pushed her into a parking lot so she wasn't stuck in the middle of the road. Windsor is full of awesome people.

This morning, I was out for a drive and came across a funeral procession at the intersection of Banwell and Tecumseh roads. There is a group of construction workers I would like to acknowledge, and give them kudos and respect. As the procession was passing the work area, they turned off all, and I mean all machines, including the paver, took off their hats and placed them over their hearts for respect for someone they probably never met in their lives. You could see some of them praying as the hearse drove by. They waited until every single car in the procession passed to start their machines up again and continue working.
At the same time, I would like to say how disappointed I am in some of our Windsor residents, who rushed passed the procession, honked their horns at the cars in front of them that stopped making a left hand turn to let the procession through. Then there were those that were cordial enough to pull off the road, some getting out of the cars to pay respects to fellow Windsorite and their family.
I was brought to tears this morning, to witness this. It starts to restore in me some faith that there is still good in Windsor.
Hats off to the construction workers. I hope some of them see this post, and know that they did not go unrecognized, and they deserve a great big thank you, instead of cursing when we pass them in all this construction.
Please pass this on, so that they know, that we know, that they are good people.

Last night I watched you address a very sad situation. In the face of what had to be a pretty tough night on the job, I saw how you continued in your duties with a calm demeanor and pressed on even when I could see sadness in the eyes of a couple of you.

I can't imagine having to live every day knowing that nights like last night were a possibility every time I showed up to work. I truly believe it takes something special that not all of us have to be able to face that while still conducting yourself as a decent human being.

Thank you for what you do.

today I was was at a Tim Hortons on Huron line beside the Bulk Barn and went in to use the washroom. When I walked in I saw saw 2 employees helping this elderly woman that was in a wheelchair use the washroom. They helped her get into her chair and cleaned her up too, I was almost in tears watching this! Great to see that some workers do more than what they have to do, It made me want to do something nice after that :)

To the amazing employees at the McDonald's on Drouillard and Tecumseh:

You've been spotted. I love the friendly attitude of all the crew members, and the dedication of your managers. My family and I have shared many meals there, since it's a nice, close by place to let our little girl interact with people. One of the lovely ladies there even watched my table so I could change my daughter since I was alone with her.

And Ainsley, if you see this, thank you so much for looking for my wedding ring. I don't think I'll ever forget how amazing that was.

Just, thanks all around.

Sincerely,
The mom of the girl who puts her high chair back by herself. & lt;3