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Hello!
I'm Debs, and you've found my little corner of the internet
I am a happily married mum of three.
Our house is home to me, my husband, three children and a huge variety of special educational needs and disabilities (ranging from severe visual impairment to autism, from speech and communication issues to dyspraxia and from osteoarthritis to vertigo). It's also home to one very nutty dog who fits in perfectly.
Having children with SEND has definitely given me a huge bag of tools to help me get back up, time and time again. Tools to help me keep the plates spinning and tools to help me know when I need to focus on self care.
I try to keep it real, I don't pretend I have the perfect Instagrammable home life, work/life balance or eating habits. Like you, I have good days and bad days.
Days when motivation comes easily and days when just getting out of bed is an achievement.
Days when anyone could pop round and I would be delighted to see them, and others when my house is in need of a bit of attention so unexpected drop ins leave me feeling overwhelmed.
Life isn't perfect for anyone but I can help you find that balance so the bad days don't outweigh the good ones.
Life is never ever dull!
I hope you enjoy reading my pearls of wisdom, please
feel free to leave your comments and thoughts.
Debs x
Happy Clients Have Said...
Latest Pearls of Wisdom
A moment in Merthyr
It’s been a rough few years and holidays have been something we have only been able to dream about. We decided to put off an overseas holiday as we are definitely the people who would end up having to isolate or getting stuck somewhere. That may sound …
Putting it off – making an easy job a challenge
Why do we do it? We have these jobs we know we need to do but we keep putting them off. By doing this, we make the job appear even more difficult than it is. We give it a power and then even more amazingly, we start to believe the hype we have created.
Recent Pearls of Wisdom
Self care: Me too not Me First,
Self care isn’t about making you the number one priority and ignoring the needs of everyone around you. Self care means “me too”.
Eat the ugly Frog first
If we eat the frog, (ie get that awful job done out of the way), then the rest of the day has got to be a breeze but what if you have more than one frog item on your list?
Review – Teen Calm Box
The aim of Teen Calm is to help young adults develop a routine that builds self-regulation skills so they can cope with those annoying doubts and insecurities
To Do List, Planning and Scheduling
“a plan Is what, a schedule is when. It takes both to get things done” Pubilius Syrus Lists Are you a list writer? Do you have lists everywhere? Or maybe even lists organised in one lovely book – yes I’m talking about you – or maybe you have amazing mind maps that you’ve spent hours …
Incomplete Compassion
Compassion – a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others and a wish to help them” Cambridge English Dictionary Everyone, with the exception of perhaps some psychopaths, has the ability to feel compassion towards others. Studies have shown that some psychopaths have the ability to feel compassion but …
Focus, focus, focus
If you are anything like me, you are possibly involved in several projects. Maybe you’re not involved in lots of projects, but you are trying to juggle work, home, me-time, keeping fit, being a mum/dad, and somehow trying to find time to write that book or redecorate that room. or learn a new skill I …
Failure, then success
Fear of Failure Why are we so afraid of failure? Failure means different things to different people; due to our upbringing, beliefs, values and obviously the standards we set for ourselves. Failure for one person may not be a failure for someone else. First of all, you need to really be clear about what failure …
Do what you can
Start where you are Do you put things off because you are thinking of the end result too much and it seems so far away? Want to run a marathon? Want to lose a few stone? Want to start a podcast? Want to change career? You know what you have to do, don’t you? Start! …
In my memories today, this little gem came up. It’s still something that makes me jump now and after 16 years, you’d think I would have learned.
Along with helping to age me, I also use these instances as a reminder to do more pelvic floor exercises. #KeepingItReal
PD - screenshot of a FB status saying “Something you never get used to - walking into a room that’s in total darkness and then hearing a voice say “morning”!
When your child is totally blind, with no light perception, they don’t need to turn lights on!
I age every time he does this!
#SendParent #ParentCarer #VisualImpairment #KeepingItReal
Things haven’t changed much, 9 years on. Except they are much taller.
My eldest still runs and my youngest still spins.
We are so used to moving around them as they do it, we don’t even notice anymore. It’s just our “norm”.
What’s your “norm” that perhaps isn’t?
This content isn't available at the moment
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people or changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.Comment on Facebook When this happens, ...
Those spins, wow, should be on Stictly.... pretty impressive xxx
Wow look how small they r deffo much taller now debbie xx
What went wrong!!!!
He has a bed (in fact he has two) but he insists on sleeping in this spot - the space we walk through to get out of the room.
And woe betide anyone who disturbs him or considers asking him to move.
#dogsofinstagram #itsadogslife #dontmindme #stepover
Comment on Facebook He has a bed (in ...
Good on ya , Bertie 🤣😂
What are people saying about the planners, journals, trackers and bouncing back workbooks?
Parent carers are loving them.
They make a great christmas gift if you have a friend who is a parent carer and don’t forget, the Bouncing Back workbook is on special offer this week.
If you have bought one and have time to leave a quick review, even just a response to this post, I would be so grateful as it helps others to see what a difference the books will make to them.
PD - different messages sent to me about the books, with quotes such as “just arrived, I love it”, “every family needs to have one”, “It’s genius”, “your approach to wellbeing is so solid. I think it’s something that has been neglected by others” and “the epilepsy tracker is fab”
#reviews #planners #bouncingback #meetthesendparent #specialneedsparent #specialneedsparenting #specialneeds #disabilityadvocate
Today involves meetings about @festability along with some work on the site so we can get tickets on sale for next year’s event.
Add in some printing and binding, a trip to the post office, two training sessions (delivering one, participant in another) and a meeting about future planning for one son and I’m thinking bed time will be very welcome later.
There’s a saying “if you need something doing, ask a busy person” and today I am putting that quote on my desk wall.
How is your day looking?
#festability #specialneeds #disability #planners #organisedchaos
PD - Festability 2022 logo
How handsome is this young man? I may be biased but I think he’s just gorgeous.
Spent the morning at the dentist and then doing cross county school runs, heading home soon to work on the @festability site whilst printing and binding the orders from this morning!
Busier than ever, happier than ever but need to practise what I preach about self care and bring some balance.
I’ve bought a hole punch so I can now offer the planners and more for A5 6-ring binders (aka Filofax) - personal size coming soon too - but this evening, I’m adding the self care journal to my Filofax. Self care starting here.
#sendparent #busymum #sendisabilities #senmum
Comment on Facebook How handsome is this...
He is 🥰
Handsome young man xx
Our gorgeous handsome grandson. Love him loads ❤️❤️
He defo is!
Happy 1 December or as we like to call it “happy advent calendar day”.
We love an advent calendar here but no one loves one more than our dippy dog. At 4.30 this morning, as I got the calendars down from the cupboard, he forgot all about being an old man with chronic arthritis and a dodgy bladder and no one would have believed he is 15. It was like having a puppy again.
However, like all us oldies (who forget we’re not as young as we once were), he will spend the rest of the day wondering what has hit him.
PD “as one door closes, another one opens - me eating the entire advent calendar”
Comment on Facebook Happy 1 December or ...
😂😂 and on a separate side note, someone has just commented on my post this morning that you know when you’re a fellow SEND parent when you’re replying before 6am! Just seeing you up and posting this and it’s just confirmed it, made me smile! Hope your senile-pup recovers x
Every SEN parent will have been here. When someone else has messed up but somehow it becomes your problem. Apologise! It isn’t difficult and we’d think more of you for it. I mean a proper apology? Not an “I’m sorry you feel that way” apology.
Today is one of those days. My children are all over 16 now so you would hope it got easier. Sadly not.
Deep breaths Debs, deep breaths!
#sendparents #apologiesmatter #ownyourmistakes
PD - when you’ve done something wrong, admit it and be sorry. No one in history has choked to death from swallowing his pride.
My “bounce back” journal goes live on the site this morning.
I’ve loved all the feedback I’ve had about the planners and trackers so far. I think people will love this one the most.
Bouncing back is something we all need to do, we don’t have time to fall.
I have launched this today and for this week (until Sunday 5 December), I am offering it at £7.99 (plus P&P), from 6 December, 2021, it will be £9.99 (plus P&P).
This is a perfect gift for any friend, even those who are not parent carers.
lifeaspland.com/product/how-to-keep-bouncing-back/
PD: quote saying Give the world the best of You, not what’s left of you.
#parentcarerwellbeing #parentcarer #specialneeds #sendparentsmatter
Comment on Facebook My “bounce back”...
Woohoo, just ordered! <3
Purchased ✅👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Lockdown 1
- v -
Lockdown 3
As rumours of lockdown 4 start to do the rounds, I am trying hard not to remember how difficult lockdown 3 was.
I’m hoping that people will do their bit to help us all stop the spread - I really don’t want to have another lockdown in winter.
Comment on Facebook 3003651573228361
Well, this made me a bit emotional, not everyone gets or agrees how important Macdonalds is to some! I am weaning Ryan off them but just this weekend he must have needed one as he went from a calm loving Ryan gently trying to communicate ( me trying to say No, we’re not going out) to a raging Ryan trying to communicate going to the extremes of nearly getting a bite in (my arm), behaviour is communication….I decided I have got to listen to that, I did not want to risk him harming himself.off we went , a drive to Maccy D’s, a trip to the seafront where he ate it ( it was 6pm) and then a hop, skip and jump when he ran indoors when we got home! Communication skills and the ‘listening ear’ working magic! Sorry off on a tangent!! Love love this video xx
Most Popular Pearls of Wisdom
Incomplete Compassion Friday, 5th June 2020 If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incompleteJack Kornfield Compassion - a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others and a wish to help them"Cambridge English Dictionary Everyone, with the exception of perhaps some psychopaths, has the ability to feel compassion towards others. Studies have shown… (217)- The Happy Diary Monday, 25th September 2017 It only takes 5 days and is not a diary you complete every evening, forever. You just do this for 5 days and then when you need a boost, you do it again. (198)
- Visualising Success Monday, 19th February 2018 When I first heard about Vision Boards (aka Dream boards), I thought “oh that’s nice but I don’t have magazines and glue sticks lying around and I have no intention of buying them”. I moved on. (166)
- Failure, then success Monday, 1st June 2020 Fear of Failure Why are we so afraid of failure? Failure means different things to different people; due to our upbringing, beliefs, values and obviously the standards we set for ourselves. Failure for one person may not be a failure for someone else. First of all, you need to really be clear about what failure… (154)
- Me, My Notebook and I Friday, 9th October 2015 Making the bullet journal wok for me. Me, my notebook and I. (150)
Most Popular Posts
- Incomplete Compassion Friday, 5th June 2020 If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incompleteJack Kornfield Compassion - a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others and a wish to help them"Cambridge English Dictionary Everyone, with the exception of perhaps some psychopaths, has the ability to feel compassion towards others. Studies have shown… (217)
- The Happy Diary Monday, 25th September 2017 It only takes 5 days and is not a diary you complete every evening, forever. You just do this for 5 days and then when you need a boost, you do it again. (198)
- Visualising Success Monday, 19th February 2018 When I first heard about Vision Boards (aka Dream boards), I thought “oh that’s nice but I don’t have magazines and glue sticks lying around and I have no intention of buying them”. I moved on. (166)
- Failure, then success Monday, 1st June 2020 Fear of Failure Why are we so afraid of failure? Failure means different things to different people; due to our upbringing, beliefs, values and obviously the standards we set for ourselves. Failure for one person may not be a failure for someone else. First of all, you need to really be clear about what failure… (154)
- Me, My Notebook and I Friday, 9th October 2015 Making the bullet journal wok for me. Me, my notebook and I. (150)
