A semblance of normality: An ex- lawyer/ stay at home mum/disabled mums view

  One of my daughter's first words was ‘customer service’. She was tiny (in the toddler seat of the trolley) and said this and pointed as we walked past the desk at a local supermarket. My family finds this very funny because it was obviously a word she’d heard often from me and it is a good insight into my own personality and the how and why I ended up as a lawyer. Having my – and my former client’s - voices heard was always incredibly important to me. So when I was in the hospital after my brain haemorrhage and the speech therapist told me that my voice had changed, it wouldn't improve and this was something I would just have to get used to, let’s just say, I wasn’t best pleased. Imagine if your voice changed overnight. How would you react? It was awful for me. For a long time I was too embarrassed to even make basic phone calls.  I couldn't even phone the school reception in case they didn't understand me. I couldn’t – and still ca

There are lots of things about becoming disabled that wind me up but also many things that have also really surprised me. A lot of these things you don't (well I didn't) even think about until you are disabled. And then it becomes everything! To say that things are hard is the understatement of the year! It is easily the hardest thing I have encountered (let me remind you I was recruited and worked for a top l aw firm,  I have a postgraduate qualification, a degree and won 2 national volunteer awards for a volunteer project I set up whilst at university - I know what hard work is...).  I am not scared to leave my house, it is just so much easier for me to stay in!! But I must get out more so I have thought about starting a new series of blogs about the things I find challenging, and the things that panic me each time I go on a long journey or go away. And although I think it'll be good for me to have a bit of a whinge, my overriding attitu

In 5 weeks time I will have 2 children to entertain predominantly on my own, with no  car, for 6 weeks - doesn't that sound easy!! I approach the summer holidays like a military operation. I am looking forward to the  holidays but like most mums, although they won't admit it, I am terrified (anyone who says they just love it, is either lying or is just sickening!). Now, I spent the day yesterday planning activities for the children.  I have a whole  summer folder with everything in triplicate (1 x my daughter, 1 x my son and 1 x the folder).  I do this every year. Yes it takes time thinking,  planning and putting it all together but it is absolutely worth it. I don't plan what we do daily in advance but I do like to have plans for when they say  'I am bored'. Between my clipboards,  busy bags and my folder I am fairly confident I can keep them busy and hopefully away from screens (if you haven't already, look at my  post about using busy bags and