12th October 2005 was S's birth day and my defining moment. 10 years ago today I had one of the toughest days of my life. My world was turned upside down and I became a mum. Motherhood is a magnifying glass. It amplifies your emotions, your strengths, your weaknesses and your LOVE. When you watch your [...]
Over sixty years ago twin daughters were removed from their mother. Last week my son performed at the London Palladium. This is the story of how my family went from the Asylum to the Palladium.
This week I stepped in the door of a local Rotary club meeting and received a warm welcome. My husband sorted the kids for school while I sat down, ate breakfast and pretended to be a grown up for a couple of hours. The people I met were really friendly and they listened intently to my story [...]
The other day I was in our local supermarket when a stranger stopped her work, looked sympathetically between me and my son and sighed 'Aaaaaah!', as though slightly disappointed. Having read many blogs and articles I know this experience is not unique. It seems many parents become indignant and frustrated, wanting to correct the stranger with [...]
As well as trials, there are many advantages to loving and parenting a child with severe and complex disabilities. Here are my Top 10 Advantages. 1) Disabled Bays No more aimlessly driving around a crowded car-park. With your precious Blue Badge, you get to park in Disabled bays (assuming some unworthy driver hasn't already nabbed it). [...]
In parenting workshops I often consider how I have needed to learn the secrets of living beyond blame when my life was suddenly defined by the consequences of a decision I made. My Story Years ago, I woke in the middle of the night with a niggling sense of uncertainty. Unable to settle I slunk out [...]
Our spring-break did not turn out as I had hoped. For reasons beyond my control my plans for quality time with both my boys failed to happen and I was left with a sense of guilt. It seems since the day SD was born I acquired the innate ability to feel guilty. I have a tendency [...]
"You have not walked in my footsteps, danced in my shoes, or lived in my world. Do not judge me, point your fingers at me, or become experts on my life." Kate Baker I have a warm memory of dancing on my dad's feet as a little girl. I would place my tiptoes on his shiny [...]
My middle is a curious, scientist. He has always asked questions, mulled over information then applied it to life. He's a geek, like his Dad, and interested in wildlife, space and history. From a young age the planets of our solar system hung suspended above his bed. Then when the lights are switched off, clusters of [...]
At a recent admission to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) I sat in our small side room gazing through the dim light at blue and red lines dancing across a large screen. My son had been admitted for a prolonged EEG, to investigate his epilepsy. Having pressed a button to indicate he was now sleeping, I [...]
