SEND the Mums

Who looks after the SEND parent?

Who looks after the SEND parent? In this episode, we’re turning the conversation back onto ourselves. After a few really tough weeks, Kirsty and I sat down for a proper catch-up about how we’ve actually been feeling. The end of the school year, endless school requests, emotional exhaustion, and trying to hold everything together while our children need us more than ever. We talk honestly about burnout, guilt, why everything can sometimes feel so relentless, and how easy it is to lose yourself while you’re busy looking after everyone else. We also touch on our own experiences of postnatal depression and the impact it had on us. There’s no advice in this one. Just two mums having a real conversation and reminding each other, and hopefully you, that it’s okay to admit when you’re struggling. Because sometimes the person who needs looking after is the one doing all the looking after. 🤍

Sports Day, Sacraments and SEND

Episode 6, we’re chatting about two big milestones that happened recently for our boys: their First Holy Communion and Sports Day. We talk honestly about why both events filled us with so much anxiety, from wondering whether the boys would make it through their First Holy Communion with their PDA and big emotions, to worrying about how we’d be judged if things didn’t quite go to plan. We also talk about Sports Day and why, for so many SEND parents, it can be a bit of a gut punch. Watching your child alongside their peers can bring up all sorts of emotions, and sometimes you’re not just cheering them on, you’re quietly grieving the things that come more easily to other children. It’s a honest conversation about celebrating our children for who they are, while also acknowledging that some milestones look and feel very different in a SEND family. If you’ve ever found yourself worrying more about an event than actually enjoying it, this one’s for you 🤍

Holidays and Neurodivergent Children

New episode 🎙️ And this week we have a new host joining us, the wonderful Leanne 🤍 This time we’re talking about family holidays with neurodivergent children. The packing lists that need their own packing list. The travelling. The safe foods. The disrupted routines. The stares from strangers when things don’t quite go to plan. And whether holidays are actually relaxing when you’re still parenting 24/7, just in a different location. Because the truth is, our holidays often look a little different to most. We talk about the things people don’t always see, and why a successful holiday doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. If you’ve ever packed half your house “just in case”, this one’s for you 🤍

Why Are School Systems So Exhausting?

This episode is all about school systems and just how exhausting they can be as a SEND parent. We chat about our own experiences, meetings, emails, trying to be heard, and how different support can look depending on where you live. We also know we’re lucky in some ways because not every family has schools or staff that are supportive, understanding, or willing to work with them, and we really wanted to acknowledge that too. It’s basically just a very honest conversation about how tiring it all is sometimes. Constantly advocating for your child while trying to keep yourself together at the same time 🤍

The Sibling Side of SEND

The siblings of SEND children carry things too. In this episode, we’re talking about the sibling side of SEND. The guilt, the pressure, the protectiveness, the resentment, the maturity beyond their years… and the constant worry about whether we’re getting the balance right. We talk about “glass children”, the siblings who often become the easy ones because they have to be, and how SEND can shape the whole family in ways people don’t always see. This one is honest, emotional, and probably one a lot of parents will relate to. Because sometimes the children saying the least are carrying the most.