Blog
Through the blog, Rachel’s Memoir The Skies I’m Under and The Skies We’re Under podcast we share the stories of fellow parents so we can all feel a little less alone and little more understood.
Click the icon to the left to access a page of useful resources that we have compiled over the years.
Holidays with excess baggage
Holidays funnel my life. They distil my stresses and strains into a finite experience. They polarise the difference between being a mum to each of my boys. Every parent knows that once you have children, holidays are never the same again. Relaxing breaks riddled with lie-ins, evenings out and lazy pub lunches become a fond and distant memory. Holidays become [...]
Prayer, you need it more than my disabled son…
A while ago, the news showed the Pope participating in a Drive-by. It didn't involve gun shots or a high-speed getaway but rather a prayer, a kiss and a blessing. Along a road the Pope was expected to be travelling, the family of a young woman set up posters requesting he stop and pray. Click here to watch the highly charged 30-second video clip that shows the [...]
Top 8 Reasons to be Like a Girl…
Last week, I was lying on a Thomas the Tank engine blanket in my garden soaking up some sun. We had spent part of the morning watching my eldest son in his sports day. If I'm honest it's never a good day for me. My competitive nature struggles to see my boy strive to participate in any of the special [...]
Everyone Loves finding a Hero
I like a good hero. Someone to admire and aspire to be like. I'm not so big on the pants over trousers thing but I guess if needs must. Last weekend I went to see Music is Magic at the Cliffs Pavilion. It was an extraordinary evening of music and singing. With the curtain down everyone packed onto the stage as [...]
A-Z of Parenting a Disabled Child
For me becoming a parent has involved changes, insights and rewards. Here's my A-Z of Parenting a son living with complex disabilities and life-limiting epilepsy. A is for Adaptations including changing routine, adapting clothing, moving to a bungalow or adjusting my dreams; one thing is true, I had to adapt. B Body building Arnold Schwarzenegger watch out! My new lifestyle is developing [...]
World Cup Lessons and shame in losing
Shame is a powerful emotion and I rarely allow it to sneak onto my palette of feelings but today I'm ashamed to be an England football supporter. All the media hype around our early World Cup exit leaves me ashamed that as a country we don't support our team. It seems we are more interested in the result than supporting the [...]