About Lucia Bellafante

Lucia Bellafante, is a mother, grandmother, author, speaker, coach and educator who applies her professional, and personal knowledge and experience as a parent, educator and master coach to help parents raise happy, healthy, safe and successful children.

Lucia has always been a story teller and teacher. As a child she crafted stories and taught her precocious brother to keep him occupied. An educator with two specialists and two teaching degrees, who taught for 35 years, Lucia implemented the art of story telling to help both children and parents. Today, Lucia has blended her passions, and expertise to help children and parents through her children’s books which serve as a bridge for parents and children to communicate, learn and spend quality time together.

Lucia created THANKS to further support parents and caregivers along their journey by providing a blueprint for establishing and maintaining a healthy, strong and supportive relationship with children so that children grow to be happy, healthy, safe and successful.

For a list of credentials please see below.

Author

 
You read with your child for many reasons: there are times you want to read with your child and laugh, there are times you want to read with your child and cuddle, there are times when you read because you’re searching for the right words to help explain something, or maybe you’re looking for a story that’s uplifting and inspiring.
 
As an author writing children’s picture books I write to entertain, educate, and enrich the lives of parents and children through story. My stories help you raise happy, healthy, safe and successful children and set the stage to have conversations with your child about all sorts of topics, some challenging, some enlightening, and some just for fun.
 
I have developed three series, written expressly so that you have the opportunity to choose the book that best suits your and your child’s needs at a particular time. Each series and story is written and illustrated to be representative of IDEA, (inclusivity, diversity, equity and accessibility). Books can be easily applied to the Ontario school curriculum and are accompanied with activity suggestions for parent and child to extend learning and fun.
 

Speaker

 

When you need a well rounded, soft spoken and passionate speaker who’s able to effectively communicate with a group of students about anti-bullying, or speak with parents about how to move forward after learning about a child’s diagnosis, or even talk about surviving divorce so that everyone not only endures but thrives, Lucia is the person to call.

As a speaker, I come from a place of compassion, honesty, and respect. I can tailor talks to your specific needs for time, topic and audience. My years as an itinerant vision teacher working with children who were blind and partially sighted taught me how to accommodate for the needs of my clients.

 

Coach

 

For the times in your life when you need a friendly, well-informed, non-judgemental guide who will help you to be accountable and encourage you to achieve your parenting goals.

As a coach, I ask questions and guide you to find the answers that are best for you and your family. You might be searching for a way to get your child to do homework, or stop biting, or throwing temper tantrums; together we get to the root of the problem and craft a solution so that peace and harmony reign within your home.

Educator

 

Sometimes you need a little more than questions, you need answers, support and education.

As an educator, I present workshops that inspire, and empower parents through knowledge and practical information so that both parents and children are respected, supported and grow.

As an experienced educator, I help teachers, and support staff understand the value of inclusivity and accommodations so that all students reach their full potential.

 

Professional Credentials

Bachelor of Education
Blind and Low Vision Specialist
Elementary Writing Specialist
AMI – Montessori Casa Teacher

Certified Master Coach Practitioner
Certified Professional Speaker
Certified Yoga Instructor
Certified Yoga Nidra Meditation Instructor
Certified Soul Realignment ® Practitioner

Certified Reiki Master 
Certified Stress Management Coach
Certified Sleep Science Coach
Certified Weight-loss and Lifestyle Coach 
Certified in Hyponolinguistics

Learning to forgive whether you’re forgiving yourself or another person can sometimes be challenging but it’s always a worthwhile effort. What does forgiveness actually mean to you? Forgiveness might mean that you let go of a grudge, resentment, hostility or even thoughts of revenge towards another person. Forgiveness might even mean that you stop blaming yourself professedly. Beyond the meaning of forgiveness is what happens when you are able to illicit forgiveness. What’s really happening when forgiveness takes place is that you’re allowing yourself the opportunity to move on. When you are able to forgive, you are letting go of pain, and emotions that bind you to past events. Freedom from past pain is liberating and part of that process is forgiveness that brings about peace.

The First Step Is To Understand Yourself
Learn to connect with your emotions so that you are better able to understand what you feel and why. Knowing exactly why you’re feeling hurt is important because once you have clarity you can better understand how to work towards forgiveness. Also, understanding that forgiveness does not mean tolerance can really help you to let go and forgive as well. When you are able to acknowledge exactly how you’re feeling and why by going inwards you can isolate the cause of your pain and in identifying the cause you can then let it go because you understand that living in that past moment will not serve you. It’s here that you discover the true power of forgiveness. Forgiveness is for you so that you can embrace inner peace.

The Second Step Is Perspective

Having the ability to look at an event, an action, or a memory from a place of love and forgiveness means that there has been growth. Perhaps this means that you forgive yourself for something that you said or did. Forgiving yourself is not however an excuse not to do better next time but it is an acknowledgment that there needed to be some maturity and now that growth has occurred you are better able to choose and act differently.

Maybe you need to forgive someone else. Remember, forgiveness doesn’t mean that you tolerate or accept the behaviour or act that has led to your pain. Rather, forgives is a way for you to step into your power and draw on your empathy and compassion both for yourself and the other person. Know that forgiveness doesn’t mean that you are going to have to continue with the current relationship, forgivenesses doesn’t mean placing yourself in danger; it simply means you can look upon an event with detachment. You are in control of your emotions, your actions and your future. Embrace your power and forgive yourself and others.


The Third Step Is Celebrate
Celebrate that you are discovering that when others hurt you, whether in small or large ways, it’s really more about them than it is about you. Celebrate that as you travel along your path you are lead to uncover your strengths and abilities in creative and unique ways. You are capable of compassion and empathy and understanding. You are capable of knowing that letting go and forgiving both others and oneself is a gift that leads to great inner peace. Celebrate that you have the courage to forgive.