Parent Mental Health and Burnout
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How long have you managed to hide in the toilet for?
I am absolutely sure at some point as parents you have hidden in the toilet to get some peace and quiet. But how long does this normally last. Not long for me usually. Ten minutes max I can probably make it last before children are banging on the door. But still hiding out on the… Continue reading
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Are we any further forward?
This week, it isn’t my son asking the questions, but me. And the question I keep coming back to, over and over, is: “Are we any further forward?“ It was Monday and the first day back at school after the half term holidays. Given how the Sunday had gone I hadn’t much hope that my… Continue reading
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Who existed school?
We were sat in the car having just parked up for the second day of school this week. Back to school anxiety had hit hard and I could see my son was really feeling it. And my son looked at me said he felt sick and he didn’t want to go to school and then… Continue reading
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Has anyone ever walked on water?
It’s the summer holidays and we have done remarkably well. Let me repeat that…remarkably well. We have had some challenges, I can’t deny that, but we have navigated through them better than I ever imagined. However, I was aided with all my new knowledge and patience around my neurodivergent child, and I was prepared (as… Continue reading
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Why do you look like a skeleton?
It was 5pm on a Saturday and my son asked me… “Why do you look like a skeleton?” And when he asked me this I could do nothing but laugh because my son was absolutely right. I did look like a skeleton. I was absolutely dead on my feet. Dead. On. My. Feet. And I… Continue reading
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You know Jesus Christ, what do you think happened?
Every morning we had the same routine (barring any meltdowns). My son would shout me when he woke up – usually between 6.30am and 7am. If he hadn’t shouted by 6.45am my alarm went off and I would lay in bed for 5 minutes waking myself up and trying to ignore the parental burnout I… Continue reading
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Can we restart?
It was the Sunday before the Monday going back to school after the Easter holidays and I was trying not to get anxious about what might unfold. My son had a hard time with school avoidance and after two weeks off the thought of going back was overwhelming for us both. But I was more… Continue reading
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What’s that black under your eyes?
Our household is a blended family and my son goes between my house and his dad’s house, which certainly helps with parental burnout. We have a very good routine. It took us 3 tries to find a routine that fit but we have it and it works extremely well. This is a routine we have… Continue reading
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Ahhhh, What A Day!!
A slightly different post this week, not a question but rather a statement of exasperation!! As the parent of a neurodivergent child I’m past trying to get through my job list when I’m with my son. It had been a day of trauma, hyperactivity and many tears. It was the school holidays after Christmas and… Continue reading
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Why are you crying, Mum?*
*Disclaimer: Get your tissues at the ready for this story about parental burnout. It was Monday – my worst day of the week as I am sure you are aware. This Monday was going to be a good Monday though. It was a PD day from school which meant my son was off school. This… Continue reading