Ella is turning 8, and today I had an epiphany I wanted to share. Most parents have a certain sadness about their children growing up, it just happens so fast! almost like you turn around and another year has past, you look back on photos and realise your baby, is a baby no more -… Continue reading Growing Older, Not Up
I looked at her perfectly round face, and her beautiful nose, with its wide bridge, her eyes, set wider apart. I looked closer at the folds in the corners of her eyes, and I looked at her cute little ear tag, I noticed her tightly held fists. I thought about all the people that commented on her cry, the woman that poked her head into Ella's pram when she was just new baby exclaiming "oh, it sounds like you have a cat in there!" Genuinely surprised to see it was my baby instead. All the jokes about how I spent too much time with my cat while I was pregnant because Ella sounds like him. This medical book, written long before Ella was born, was describing her features perfectly. The book feeling like it weighs a million tonnes on my lap, to mach the weight I felt in my heart.
I don't have time for a breakdown right now, But I can feel it creeping up. We've had a rough couple of weeks, Ella's behaviour has been horrible. Full meltdowns at seemingly at everything for seemingly no reason. Toilet time? Meltdown Dinner? Meltdown Time to get dressed? Meltdown Breakfast? Meltdown It gets worse - She… Continue reading Keeping it Real
So your child has just received a diagnosis.. Welcome to the club that no one wants to be part of, but I can promise you, That this club, with all its ups and downs, is full of amazing, inspirational and strong people.
Having a special needs child has been a journey unlike anything I could have imagined, there's Been the lowest of lows, but also the highest of highs. Ultimately Ella has taught me so much, and having the honour of being her mum has been so rewarding. Here's what she's taught me.
This morning, we were all up early (thanks Reece) and ready so I figured, fuck it, we'll head off half an hour before we usually do, it's the last day of school. We weren't even past our property line, that it hit me She can walk!
For some new mothers, they slip into motherhood effortlessly, Toting their tiny babies around in clean prams, with perfect hair and pre-pregnancy jeans, sipping chai latte's and chatting. For me, Cafe's and Latte's got replaced with hospital canteens and cheap coffee, coffee dates turned into appoinmappo after appointment, oohing and aahing over my baby replaced by "whats wrong with her" and a thousand questions I couldn't answer.
We almost made it. 2 weeks of school holidays, a week and a half in and it's been great! Joel has been working long hours, and looking after the 2 kids has been hard on my own. I can't leave them alone together because Ella is rough with Reece still, so trips to the toilet have been a family occasion, and showering is out of the question until Joel gets home because Ella freaks out when I shower, and there's been a few moments but all in all its been good! We've had beautiful weather, Ella has loved playing outside. I Even put together a playpen for Reece so I could weed the garden and hang out washing without worrying about Reece chasing the dog. Ella didn't complain about me putting sunscreen on her (which can sometimes be a challenge), or meltdown when it was time to come in. We went and fed the ducks near our house a couple of times, and even though Ella was scared of them, she took it like a champ and kept going back which is huge for her to overcome a fear like that! A few appointments as always but they went off without a hitch. I had a lovely visit from my grandma, who I don't get to see nearly often enough, and Ella was on her best behaviour. We had A couple of visits from the neighbour and her young son played with Ella, which went so well, Ella was so happy afterwards. And then today happened. Today it all came crashing down. We almost made it 2 weeks and I expected it, and I'm sure parents of 'typical' children have these days but I can't help but feel so disappointed. I'm worn out, deflated and just done. It was raining today, so I thought I'd let Ella run around in the rain, it was warm enough and I have let her before and she's always loved the experience! But Not today Complete and utter meltdown after less than 5 minutes because her clothes got wet, (I think) then she wouldn't get changed and the day went downhill from there. She bit herself so hard it left a huge welts on her arm. I had to keep her and Reece completely seperate all day because she just kept lashing out at him, trying to pinch, push, grab, hit. She's been violent and lashed out towards me, Ive been slapped, pinched, my hair ripped out while trying to calm her, or stop her from hurting herself. She's refused pretty much all food, all day. I've watched my usually well natured girl throw things, bang her head on things, self harm, throw herself on the ground and just be violent and destructive - All Fucking Day And that's it. No well written, long-winded thought out post. Just this. Word vomit, written on my phone while sitting on the toilet with the shower running. This is my life. Hopefully tomorrow is a better day, we're off to Wangaratta to meet a new physio. Now Ellas finally calmed down for a while with her iPad before bed, and I'm off to cry in the shower and wonder what the hell I could have done differently today. Ugh. We almost bloody made it.
Most nights before bedtime, I try to do some kids yoga with Ella. It's a great way for her to unwind, and also great for her balance, which she still has a lot of trouble with. Sometimes she'll even do it herself, as Ive got the photo visuals laminated on her wall! I'm sharing this for 2 reasons, 1 - because it makes me look like a fantasic parent, and 2 - because I feel guilty that a couple of hours ago I lost my shit because Ella did not want to get dressed, which then caused a naked meltdown of epic proportions that lasted nearly an hour and ended with both of us in tears, proving I'm not, in fact, a fantastic parent, most of the time I'm pretty fucking mediocre. Just like yoga, It's all about balance... 🤷 cont...
Not going to lie, this one was tough to write. My two biggest losses in life, my father, and a child that never existed. - How I deal with grief.
