As a qualified nurse, wife of a GP and the parent of a young man with complex disabilities, I sometimes feel as though I’m being fed the line of empowerment whilst being thrust into a system which doesn’t listen. Sometimes I wonder if, as a parent carer, I am a lot like Cassandra. Cassandra, a [...]
In promoting the 'Don't call me Mum' initiative and asking practitioners to #CallMe, I often hear the excuse that a hospital professional is simply too busy. It is easy in the bustle of the hospital ward to mistakenly regard the details as unimportant. Like the panoramic view of any hospital stay might include the admission [...]
I’m not sure where to start because there are so many of you who have the opportunity to deliver personalised care. Maybe you’re one of the many therapists (Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Speech And Language Therapist to name but a few) who collude and agree when it’s best to meet and then ask that I adhere [...]
I’m not sure where to start because there are so many of you. Maybe you’re one of the many therapists (OT, PT, SALT) who collude and agree when it’s best to meet and then ask I adhere to your agreed date and time. Please know, I’m grateful for your input, skills and knowledge. I know [...]
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 [...]
"Grown-ups write letters to the council all the time but nine-year-old boys don't," I assured him. "We all need to say what we think is right, no matter how old we are."
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 [...]
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.
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 [...]
