For about three seconds in 2005 (the year I became a mum) I thought I could be a SuperMum. It didn’t last long. Unfortunately, I spent a few years trying to pretend to be a Supermum. Every morning I donned my Lycra suit and tried to trick everyone into thinking I’m Superwoman. Having a son with severe disabilities meant [...]
Is it just me? Or does anyone else feel like they are desperately trying to keep their house in order whilst stopping themselves from falling over the edge? I’ve always enjoyed living life a little on the edge. I love travelling and feeling like the foreigner. I’ve even been known to eat something that is a day [...]
When I worked as a nurse in A&E, I knew that even in the middle of emergency procedures, how I treated the patient and family would be remembered. As a parent standing over my fitting son while the doctors fought to stop an hour long seizure, this simple fact went from theory to reality. As a healthcare professional [...]
Shakin’ Stevens and Slade are unashamedly blaring out from music systems around the country. The usual suspects have decked their National Lampoon homes with sufficient lights to be seen from space. ‘Miracle of 34th Street’ and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ are scheduled on a loop over the next couple of weeks. You’ve seen the Coca Cola ad, the [...]
As much as I love the summer, I’m glad it is autumn. It's time to collect conkers and pick the last few blackberries. Although I will miss the brighter days and warm sun on my face, the summer is my toughest season.
It is a common phenomenon for parents of children with complex needs to hear 'No' from professionals and councils. A universal experience is our need to fight for our children.
There is something I’ve discovered, no matter how hard I try, moments still only last a second. Over the last year I have tried really hard to soak up life but time still just flies by as moments effortlessly slip through my fingers, no matter how hard I grip or how deeply I breathe.
Life changes when you become a mum, even more so when your son has a disability. With any baby, normal run of the mill activities become calculated missions of precision and specialist equipment. Leaving the house takes two hours of planning and a boot-load of accessories. Going on holiday requires upsizing your car and is suddenly [...]
The debate about the ‘Down Syndrome Blood Test’ is raging. Unfortunately, I think a lot of it fails to question whether any blood test can accurately measure the value of a life.
Parenting a disabled child gets a bad press, so here is my Top 11 advantages to parenting a disabled child but there are many more.
