The Skies We’re Under Born at the Right Time

Rachel is joined by Marian Boothroyd-Selby, Director of Development at Certitude (an adult social care provider) and the parent of three boys who have a remarkable array of complexities and awesomeness - autistism, Down Syndrome, rare and life-threatening heart condition and worse of all, for one son – being just like his mum. 

In this brilliant conversation we touch on tough topics such as: 

Adjusting to being the parent of a child with Down Syndrome and how it can be more about us adjusting to the system than the baby. 
Do not resuscitate orders. 
Your child needing CPR and learning how to live in every day. 
How you can have all the right qualifications as a professional and still miss things as a parent.

In this wonderful conversation with Paul and Michael Atwal-Brice, we talk about  

How the best Rom Coms start in Cleethorpes. 
How Paul and Michael fell in love with their boys. 
How little things can make a big difference (for example a form saying Parent 1 and Parent 2 rather than Mum and Dad).
How medical trauma impacts parents.  
The importance of humour and beige food to get us through the day.

This great interview with Tracey Huggins looks at; 

Mental health (ours not our children’s) 
Her sex life (that bit’s quite quick) 
Being a nodding dog to the system  
Having a child who doesn’t have a diagnosis.

Rachel talks to Lucy and Sarah about how being the parents of people with complex needs has taken over – well ... everything. How we have changed and transitioned through seasons of our life and our child’s life. We cover; 

The emotional phases we go through – rage, resignation and resolve. 
Deputyship and power of attorney – who needs it and why? 
Realising there isn’t such a thing as ‘it’ll be easier when...’ 
How none of us is Mother Teresa incarnate. 
One of our biggest roles as parents is to enable our children to have fun and feel safe without us. 
We talk about how we might try and shift the idea of motherhood being at its best when we are frantically doing everything for our children, to one where we celebrate and share stories of our children loving life without us #FunWithoutMum

In the second of our festive specials, Rachel, Sarah and Lucy talk about how Christmas for many, far from being magic and nostalgic, can simply become a case of ‘just got to get through it’. How for a lot of parents, we so want to feel one thing but the reality of the many emotions we live with become bigger and bigger as December progresses. 
Adapting plans and expectations for Christmas – what can be ditched? 
How to show love and support for a person with complex needs. 
Feelings of isolation at Christmas. 
Managing expectations. 
The contrast of the ‘complex Christmas’. 
Letting go of emotions. 
Additional pressures of Christmas.  
Christmas is a time where expectations are highlighted and magnified. Having a child with complex needs takes the ability to create your ‘perfect Christmas’ out of your hands. 
(See our Instagram post for the snow making reel discussed in this episode.)
Please rate, review and follow the podcast. You can also DM our social channels, or email TSWUpodcast@gmail.com.
#TSWUpodcast #theskieswereunder #valueofeveryone #parenting #disability #disabilityawareness #inclusion #podcast #teamaroundthechild #OT #Physiotherapy #complexneeds #pmld #nursing #specialneeds #specialneedsparenting #autism #learningdisability #cerebralpalsy #epilepsy #livedexperience #communication #coproduction #swearing #laughingisthebestmedicine

In this Christmas episode, we discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of Christmas. We talk the lead up, the lights, the planning, the nativities and the REALITY of Christmas Day, as well as
·      Is Christmas a holiday / break?
·      The experience of a SEN school Christmas / nativity - the carnage, the hilarity, the cuteness and the (in)appropriateness.
·      The emotional overload of the festive season.
·      Christmas presents – buying gifts for a child with complex needs and the overwhelming multitude of people who support them
·      Top tips for gifting including recycling, regifting, wish lists and whether it’s acceptable to buy children everyday essentials.
 
At a time when expectations of joy and magic are so high, what we often overlook is that reality and lived experience don’t change. Rachel, Sarah and Lucy discuss the importance of keeping in mind who Christmas is for and therefore how best to manage expectations and keep them realistic.
Please rate, review and follow the podcast. You can also DM our social channels, or email TSWUpodcast@gmail.com.
#TSWUpodcast #theskieswereunder #valueofeveryone #parenting #disability #disabilityawareness #inclusion #podcast #teamaroundthechild #OT #Physiotherapy #complexneeds #pmld #nursing #specialneeds #specialneedsparenting #autism #learningdisability #cerebralpalsy #epilepsy #livedexperience #communication #coproduction #swearing #laughingisthebestmedicine