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

On Friday August 21st, there will be another court date for the accused murderer of Cassandra Ashley Kaake. Our daughter Molly Grace Kaake-Durham will not be represented in the charges by the Criminal Justice System of Canada. Due to an oversight in our laws, the accused will never be prosecuted for his crime against our daughter.
I should be posting pictures of my seven month old baby girl. Instead I post this:
I will be standing outside the courthouse on Friday at 11 a.m. to petition our lawmakers to make it so that an unimaginable act of violence like the one that took the life of my daughter will no longer be unpunished in Canada.
Ontario Court of Justice - 200 Chatham St E, Windsor, ON.
Please help support #MollyMatters.
This is a picture of Molly at five months gestation.

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.

Large curbside bin (similar to Herby Curby) stolen East Windsor night of Aug 12, Gray.
Spray painted "2715" on all sides

email: theoryguru@hotmail.com

Reward...
Thanks in advance!

I was on Cameron and university today around 5 pm, near the Alicia Mason building. I found a religious medal in the ground. Looks worn / loved and I would like to find its owner. It's looks made of nickel and is about the size of a penny. I'm not posting what it looks like more than this, because I want the right owner to claim it. If it's yours and you lost it , please send me an email with what I'd on the medal and I will return it to you. Email is majewda_83@Hotmail.com.

A mother left her baby locked in her car on a hot day! Took firemen 20 minutes to get into the car :( guess going to the gym was more important.