Life AsPland

3 months ago

We're beyond excited to introduce you to KinToa, a magazine that's not just pages but a heartfelt journey. It's where the resilience of 'Kin' meets the Maori spirit of 'Toa', meaning warrior. KinToa is crafted for and by SEND parent carers, infused with real stories and lived experiences.

This isn't about fleeting comforts like hand massages at meetings. KinToa is about deep, meaningful support, shared laughter, and inspirations drawn from our own lives. We're here to empower with knowledge, unite in solidarity, and brighten your days with genuine smiles.

And now, we invite YOU to join us from the start. Sign up to be the first to hear about our launch! Get exclusive early insights, a glimpse of our inspiring content, and much more.

👉 Embark on this journey with us. Be part of a community where every story resonates, every challenge is acknowledged, and every parent carer feels a sense of belonging.

Get in touch if you would like to contribute or have any ideas or suggestions that would help you as a parent carer.

lifeaspland.com/kintoa/ (or link in bio)

#kintoa #sendparenting #RealStories #livedexperience #StrongerTogether #sendcommunity #magazinelaunch #JoinTheMovement

And a huge thanks to Natalie Trice for giving me the support and encouragement to do this. ... See MoreSee Less

Life AsPland

3 months ago

“I know I shouldn’t be nibbling this mum, but it’s mint and I really like it!”

Negative side - need to resolve the issue as they shouldn’t eat more than a few leaves a day.

Positive side- he has amazing breath! ... See MoreSee Less

Life AsPland

3 months ago

Having a base is really helpful when there is a group of you but if you need a meeting point when you first get there, we highly recommend using our merchandise stall. It has a large flag near it and although it gets busy, there is always space to stand and wait for friends.

If you want a "what if we lose you" space once you're inside, then head to the bar. This year the bar is in the centre of the field, with seating and it will be a safe space to wait until your friends find you.

We do have a lost child spot near the first aid but to avoid that getting too busy, if you are just waiting for friends or know they are going to be back after a sing song, then head to the merchandise stall or bar area. ... See MoreSee Less

Life AsPland

3 months ago

You can never have too”too many” pens. Or at least that is what I have told my husband.

I love them. I love my fountain pens, they make me feel like a grown up but at the same time, lots of notebooks don’t like fountain pens and ink.

I love fineliners and midliners in a huge variety of colours but as someone who doesn’t use them to colour, I have a large collection of pale yellow and other pastel shades that are useless for writing.

I love gel pens, be they the 99p pack from B&M or the more expensive brands from Hobbycraft.

I love highlighters, but why oh why do some brands make them so dark?

I love pencils, be they the humble HB or a colour selection. As I bullet journal, I have found coloured pencils to be the best option for drawing lines in there as no chance of smudging as you move the ruler.

However, I have yet to find a rollerball I like.

What about you? Tell me your favourite pens. Tell me what you dislike in pens. I love finding new brands and trying alternative collections.

#bulletjournal #fineliners #fountainpens #fountainpenaddict #highlighters #bujojunkies #pencil #pencollection ... See MoreSee Less

Life AsPland

3 months ago

I’ll just help you load the dishwasher shall I?

This puppy is into everything! Especially the things he shouldn’t be in to.

We’ve bought a metal crate today as the beautiful red canvas one was destroyed during a car journey 🙄

And now my YouTube recommendations are all dog related rather than business or planners! I need to work on getting that back to the lovely selection it used to be.

But he is also very very cute and treats me like a returning hero when I’ve been out of the room for 5 minutes ❤️

#labradoodle #puppylove #puppychaos ... See MoreSee Less

Life AsPland

4 months ago

My youngest had to resit his English GCSE for 2nd time. He is blind & autistic. His 1st exam came as he developed epilepsy and had his first few seizure a week or so before. Then the board lost his papers for months.

His 2nd one was a mess because the board only sent part of the paper in Braille!

But he resat again before Christmas and everything was there, his epilepsy was under control. Today he has received his results - he passed and is absolutely on cloud 9. #NeverGiveUp #proudmum ... See MoreSee Less

Life AsPland

4 months ago

A diagnosis brings a spectrum of emotions, each a valid and integral part of our journey.

So much is written about how to get a diagnosis; what the criteria is for a diagnosis and what to do when you don’t get one but little is written about how it feels to get the diagnosis.

As a family, we’ve collected many a variety of diagnosis along our travels. You would think that, by now, we would be pretty used to being handed a new label/diganosis and getting on with it; you would think that we would be hardened to the experience.

We're not. A new diagnosis may bring some relief because a diagnosis is often one of the tick boxes required for support, but it can also bring a spectrum of other emotions

What happens the days after the diagnosis? I've written about this over on my blog. lifeaspland.com/the-day-after-the-diagnosis/ ... See MoreSee Less

Life AsPland

4 months ago

Are you promising yourself this is the year you will get on top of all that paperwork. As a parent carer, I know how the little piles of paperwork can quickly become mountains. I know the hours I can waste trying to find that one piece of paper I need.

Over the years I have found lots of tips and tricks to help get it organised but also how to stay on top of it once you have sorted it. We all have days where we go for it and file like a ninja! But then we don't have strategies to keep it that way.

This guide offers you some tips to do just that. From someone with three children with SEND, these tips mean I spend less time searching for paperwork and as a result, my stress levels get a break too.

Go to lifeaspland.com/paperwork-guide/ to download the guide ... See MoreSee Less

Life AsPland

4 months ago

It takes real planning to organise this kind of chaos. - Mel Odom

Is it just me who saw this quote and knew it was meant for me? Without planning, the chaos of three children with SEND, a puppy, an inclusive festival and a business to run would have left me on my ar&e a long time ago.

Sunday evening is planning time for me, looking at calendars, appointments and to do lists, and working out how it will all get done.

Sometimes it doesn't - because life happens - but that's ok, I add them back to the list next Sunday when I plan again. Having a little plan, even if it is only "on Monday I will do x" and not a specific "on Monday at 11am, I will do x for 30 minutes" helps me start Monday without total dread.

Your diary will tell you how many appointments or meetings you have, prioritise those (adding in travel time where needed) and then just try to plan some of your tasks around it.

Comment below and let me know if you do it, or perhaps you plan on a different day - what are your top tips? ... See MoreSee Less

Life AsPland

4 months ago

Do you have a list of things you enjoy doing? The things that cheer you up?

When you are having a sh*t day, you won't remember what makes you happy, so write a list down ready for those bad days. Yes, if we lived in an instagram world. sh*t days wouldn't exist but we live in the real world so they do.

Sit in your self care corner, grab that journal and write down all the things that make you happy. People who cheer you up, Youtube videos that cheers you up, smells that cheer you up, places that cheer you up, tastes that cheer you up.

I know watching Greg Davies tell his underwear story on the Graham Norton show, the one where Ryan Gosling struggles to breathe as he is laughing so much, is guaranteed to make me smile.

I know a visit to the beach is guaranteed to cheer me up.

I know a phone call with some friends will cheer me up or at least help me offload and move on.

I know the smell of tarmac makes me smile (obviously not something I can always find but I have been known to happily sit at temporary lights when they are laying a new road)

I know Ibiza anthems from the 90s cheer me up

I know a true crime podcast may not necessarily cheer me up but will give my brain a break.

Make a list when you are in a good place and keep adding to it as you remember more things. When we first introduced these in the house, it was highly amusing to see what the children added to theirs. "Ice cream before dinner" is still one of my favourites. Yes, I would recommend introducing the idea of "what makes me happy" lists to your children. It's a great tool for them after a bad day at school.

We call it the sh*t day list, but you could call it something like "Things that cheer me up" if you prefer.

I would love to hear if you make one and how it works for you.

#badday #parentcarerlife #specialneedsfamily #familylife #specialneedsparenting #thingsthatmakemehappy ... See MoreSee Less