Walking around my local supermarket last week* my mind suddenly went blank and I couldn’t remember what I had come in for. Then it started. That distinct feeling that sometimes overwhelms me – the growing sense of dread, nausea and dizziness. An inability to sit or stand still, yet unable to move. Anxiety. That often forgotten symptom […] Read more…
Snuggling in bed last week, my little girl and I were having a little chat while we waited for the house to heat up. It was far too cold for us. We’d sent all the boys down to turn the heating on and light the fire. We’d giggled as they pulled on hoodies and bedsocks while […] Read more…
Siblings of children with additional needs are an amazing bunch. They have a bit more on their plates than some, but when the chips are down it is this lot I’d want fighting in my corner. You know you are a sibling to a special needs dude when… Every ache, sprain or pain is met with a “you’ll be fine”. […] Read more…
We were driving to my mum’s house last week and some fool had mentioned to Gabriel – my five-year-old boy who has global development delay – that we were on our way to visit Nanny. Gabe has no concept of time and is non-verbal so obviously when Nanny’s house did not appear within 3 seconds he […] Read more…
To my little darling, I want this to be clear. We are not giving up on you. No way. This is not us admitting defeat. Not by a long chalk. Just pressing pause for a bit. Giving you chance to rest. A time out. We’ve all tried. Tried so very hard for four long years. Day in and […] Read more…
Sleep deprivation smells of poo. Sometimes quite literally. My littlest man has been hit by those pesky autumnal viruses that all kids get when they start school. You know the ones that linger for weeks and cause all your carefully constructed routines to be shot to pieces, especially the sleep ones. It’s been weeks since we put him […] Read more…
In Liverpool where I grew up the phrase “I am on the edge” is much bandied about. It is a brilliant statement that has evolved to comedy status over the years. The chippy was shut and I was starving. Then he couldn’t decide on Maccies or Chinese. I was on the bloody edge. There were […] Read more…
I remember three things clearly. That I had brought two bright blue jumpers in the Oasis sale that morning, I had a horrible cold, and I travelled on the train in first class. It is strange that 14 years later that it is this information that remains ingrained in my brain. Yet I can’t remember the name […] Read more…