Special needs round-up: Looking back, forward and now

I know, I know, it’s January!

Christmas was wonderful yet challenging and exhausting, we’re all paying for it all in more ways than one. It’s tricky to get our children outside because it just won’t stop raining, the school runs are still dark and I for one haven’t got the energy to build an ark to float off to warmer climes in.

But January is a wonderful time of year to look back over the progress and achievements of the past 12 months, to identify sticking points, to readjust, regroup and refocus (that’s my word for the year: FOCUS) on what our families, our children and we as SEN parents need. So, with that in mind and the first sight of daffodils peeking their green shoots of Spring through the cold earth, let’s support each other through this less than jolly month, after all Britmums Live is on the horizon too. It would be lovely if you could pick a couple of the blogs below to pay a visit to, and leave a golden gift in the form of a comment for their hardworking authors. Then link any posts you’d love to share in the linky at the bottom of the page.

Looking Back

We kick off with an action-packed look at the past year 2013, A Year to Beat by Alice who writes My Life, My Son, My Way. Weddings, blog awards, Deal or No Deal and more! Her son Kyd who has Down’s syndrome has just undergone long-awaited major surgery as well, and I’m sure she would appreciate your thoughts for his speedy recuperation.

At Downs Side Up as I looked back over our busy year I found hundreds (literally) of photos and selfies that Natty had taken on my hijacked phone. (Is mine the only child who does that?) Collecting them in one place made for a humorous memory of the year gone by. I hope you enjoy A 7 year Old’s Year in Selfies.

Mothergeek paused for thought about her son’s communication progress at a recent SALT appointment. It’s so heartening to measure improvement at these markers in time, even if in our daily lives we feel as if we are treading water. Speech Therapy Progress celebrates those little steps perfectly.

Looking Forward

Craig Porter is a new blogger with a beautiful new baby daughter who has Down’s syndrome. His family’s positive attitude inspire me and when I read this letter, the letter they sent to friends and family before Kara was born, I had tears in my eyes. Please read Our Child First beautiful words for the arrival of a new life.

Aspie in the Family has made a decision to home educate moving forward, rather than continuing with the education struggles she was facing for her child. I was shocked to read that she and Jax Blunt at Live Otherwise Making it Up had received accusations of neglect and abuse simply because they had made this choice with their children’s best interests at heart. Defending Home Education is a compelling read.

Looking at the Here and Now

The Diary of a Not So Ordinary Boy is new on my radar and every post is a must read. Special Needs Mum and teacher Nancy, talks in Slow Down. Wait. Watch. about how their portage worker taught them to slow down as a family and enjoy the moment, focussing on the process of everyday activities, not the product at the end of them. A wise lesson for us all.

Mum Marianne has blogged about how a One Page Profile has helped teachers and medical professionals look at what her son can do, as opposed to what he finds more difficult. Could a simple document like this help others work in a child-centred way with your SEN child? Find out in What He Can Do, Not What He Can’t Do.

Over at Friendship Circle, 15 Surprising Quotes from my Child with Special Needs is a wonderful, amusing and touching list of incredible things that Karen’s son, who has Autism, has said to her over the years. It’s a post that made me resolve to write such gems from my children down in the future. I’m sure you too could make a list of signed or spoken insights into your child’s unique mind.

There’s been a lot written this month about the non-existence of ADHD. You only have to ask experienced parents such as Rachel from Confessions of a SAHM to see what they think about the condition they and their children live with daily. This post ADHD Doesn’t Exist – Allegedly should shed some light on the situation as does ADHD Awareness and Acceptance by Musings SAHM.

 

I hope you enjoy reading your way around the featured posts, and I look forward to our next rendez-vous in February, which we hopefully won’t still be reading in our thermals!

Hayley x