Nothing lasts forever/ Extreme Parenting for Adrenaline Junkies

"Nothing lasts forever" This mantra has got me through a lot - with my nuero-typical children too, to some degree.

Of course, this applies to the good stuff, as well as the bad.....

My kiddies won't want to hold my hand forever, but also (I hope) they won't argue with me over what's for dinner for evermore...... They won't always want me to cuddle them, but then they won't always need me during the night......

With Little I, I had a sharp reminder of my 'nothing lasts forever' mantra this week. She's been poorly,  it's only a cold but she doesn't weather them well. What I realised however, was that it had been a 'long' time ('long' is a relative term) since her previous illness. There were many years when it was the norm for Little I to be battling a cold or chest infection, me on a bit of elastic to the doctors, countless antibiotics and frequent visits to A&E and stays on the ward. The latest illness has completely thrown us back into full-on nocturnal living. I was cast back very quickly to those days and relived my relief that those days are now mostly history. Of course new challenges come along and I don't suppose sleep will ever be great, but you embrace every new challenge, adapt and move forward.

To coin an annoying song.

I get knocked down
But I get up again
You're never going to keep me down


Albeit with love and support, some wine and if we're lucky, some social care respite (but don't get me started on that fast).

Hold on in there guys. This is extreme parenting. Get used to running on adrenaline at the tough times, and accept that these tough times can last some time........

Corporate Motherhood (with SEN)

Corporate Motherhood (with SEN)

Stepping from a Professional Job into Motherhood and then chucking in some SEN....... (Special Education Needs if you're not familiar with the latest acronym!)

BAU used to be daily defined work related tasks that didn't test your sanity, cleanliness or patience. Now it is school runs, packed lunches, homework, school paperwork, unfathomable sibling arguments, terrible sleep, hospital appointments, speech therapy, play therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, anyothertherapy, and lots of poo.

KSOR used to be the 'must do' business basics to keep things ticking over. These may have been repetitious but again generally never challenged your sanity, cleanliness or patience. Now KSOR is emptying and reloading the dishwasher at least 3 times per day, wiping lick marks off of all windows, TV screens and glass, clearing up small piles of reflux vomit that I stumble across on the floor, picking up numerous random objects from the floor (usually shiny things - cheese graters, sieves, pan lids etc), oh and lots and lots and lots and lots of clothes washing, drying and putting away. And - not to be forgotten - lots and lots of Caffeine for Mum!!!!!

Reports: I still deal with facts and figures - oh yes - plenty...... but now it is 'how many times do you have to hand a spoon back to your child at meal-times in a 24 hour period?' (really!), 'how many meters can your child walk without feeling discomfort?', 'How many words or signs does your child have?', 'how many times per night do you need to re-settle your child in bed?', 'how many times do you wipe their nose?', 'Is your child continent?' and so on and so on - generally lots of reports on things your child can't do and what help they need. So uplifting, huh?!

Negotiations: These used to result in business or personal benefit. Now? They involve whose turn is it on the iPad, how many chocolate biscuits are acceptable, how many more minutes before bedtime, what club you'll take away if the bedroom isn't tidied and so on. These negotiators are far more wearing than those of the boardroom, & typically I feel less successful (for the adult!).

And Business Development?? Well - researching therapies, convincing your GP & paediatrician of said new therapies, laminating stuff, visual time-tables, play-dates, introducing new things on trial and error basis (diet, therapy, supplements etc) & some more laminating just for the fun of it.

Would I change it? No - well - maybe a little! Heres to Corporate Motherhood with a splash (or rather big fat dollop) of SEN.

I do sometimes wonder how I used to fill my days......?