So not that long ago, somewhere between the invention of the wheel and iPhones, I had many childcare jobs, in nannying and childminding. I trained as a nurse, and I was wild and carefree.
Then I had children! Well, the second one in particular, who was apparently a demon in training. I honestly thought I was losing the plot, and I really believed I was a rubbish mum. I was convinced I simply couldn’t manage more than one child and found myself insanely irritated at those mothers with multiple children who just seemed to, you know, get it.
After talking with other people over time, I began to realise it wasn’t my parenting so much as that he simply couldn’t help his behaviour, and that he was well, just different to my others.
Obviously I now know him, his little quirks, his isms, what makes him tick. I know he is not just being awkward when he won’t wear certain clothes or shoes, or when he hides under his blankets in the fort he has made his bed into, or wears his hood up and his refusal to wear shorts sometimes, even in the blistering heat. It’s just what makes him comfortable. So I wanted to create somewhere to share my experiences and anecdotal stories, and document our journey; so that others can see it’s ok to feel like you are floundering out of your depth, and you are not a bad parent. Even if you want to throw them out of the nearest window sometimes. (*often)
I have since been invited to share my writing on other sites such as the Limping Chicken, and I happily do so, because in these, I add my own experiences of being deaf, and how this affects all aspects of my daily life, (Definitely not the time where I accidentally put my hearing aids through a hot wash and tumble cycle and ended up waiting weeks to be able to hear again…)
I wanted to show people that they are not alone in thinking the miniature Satan in their living room is beyond redemption, or that they are not the only parent wanting to jump on the first train outta town and head to Margaritaville (‘cos it’s always five o clock somewhere!)
We are just doing the best we can for our children and our sanity. And you know what? That’s ok.