With gathering restrictions eased further and the summer season here, we’re finally able to get together with friends & family again, and begin having fun times like we used to.
Add to that the Euro 2020 tournament being in full swing, when is a better time than to have a garden gathering with a barbecue? A BBQ is one of my favourite things in the summer – I’d have one every week! Read more
The parent who wishes they could change the world’s view of their child’s normal, which is not like every other child’s normal.
The parent who dreads every single school run. The school run that ends in the walk of shame. Because your special child, is just being normal.
I see you.
The parent who lives in a shell with their special child because you dread every single outing.
The parent trying to hold it together whilst your special child is having a meltdown; because that’s their normal.
I see you.
The parent who is begging for help. Because you know your child isn’t every other child’s normal, but their special kind of normal.
The parent who is crumbling under the pressure of living with the difficulties your special normal child faces every. single. day.
I see you.
The parent who is sad that their special child is forever excluded from peer events, like birthday parties.
The parent who is sad that this even extends to their siblings.
I see you.
The parent who is reading this.
The parent who feels isolated.
I see you.
I see me.
I’m the one walking there, standing there, holding back the tears, head held in shame. But why should I be ashamed?
This is my special child. This is his normal.
My child can’t help the way he is. He just needs understanding. He needs me.
I need to be strong. Even if I don’t feel it, I need to show it. I need to fight for him.
He is my strength. He’s made me the mother I am today.
I see you – reading this. You are not alone. I stand with you. We have the fight, the strength, the courage.
We have the special kind of normal.
Before reading any further, take a moment to remember your happy family memories from last year. You are bound to have a few (we hope), so dwell on what you did and how those happy memories were created.
Think now.
Finished? Read more
We all know that family life is busy. So much so that you don’t always get enough time to spend together. Yet, you can work on that. Here are three things you can do to make an improvement here. Read more
You may have read my previous posts about J’s challenging behaviour and I have been at my wits end for months, fast running out of ideas on how to deal with it. I’ve spoken with nursery, I’ve spoken with the health visitor, I’ve spoken with one of my friends who worked in a nursery for a long time; I’ve consulted the internet, blogs, my peers, but nothing seems to change. So either this is just instilled into him or I am just a rubbish mother!
Anyway, a few weeks ago I had quite a breakdown with his behaviour. I was already feeling pretty rubbish in general and he just pushed me over the edge. We had been at our usual Tuesday play group (run by the friend mentioned above) and he had been defiant all morning, then he pushed another child who was just minding his own. I just completely lost myself then and we left with me in tears and having to call my brother-in-law for help with the boys as I was breaking down. My friend came round later that afternoon and mentioned a ‘Parenting Pistop’ run by the local Education Preparation Unit. I thought it sounded worth a try so she made a referral for us.
Last week we went to see the ladies who run it and to sign up for it if we were interested. We were told that it will only be a small group – six parents and children – so we can get the most out of it. The way it works is that the session is an hour and half long and us parents spend 20 minutes playing with our children and getting them settled in, in the play room – it’s a Sure Start centre so lots of activities – then we go off (while the children are supervised by one of the ladies) and have a discussion about our difficulties and methods of dealing with behaviour and the such. Both hubby & I can attend but it really depends on whether he can get the time off work, but we signed up anyway as I can make the sessions.
Mine & J’s first session is this afternoon, for a taster session. It will be good to have some time just the two of us too, as I know he needs more of it but it’s difficult when hubby works long hours and I’m home with both of them every day and N rarely naps. I will update you on how we get on – hopefully we will get somewhere this time.
