Life as a SEN mum

Even attempting to do a post on this seems a tad hypocritical. I’m always the first to remind anyone that they need time to themselves, but I always put myself last. I think it’s something as parents (particularly mothers) we do all too often. I say particularly mothers, because all I seem to hear from friends, or see on parenting groups on social media, is how mums feel that they can’t even shower alone, whilst their partners/husbands seem to be able to do whatever they want, whenever they want, without any consideration for their family. Don’t get me wrong, I get it, I’ve been there, but there are men out there who aren’t completely selfish, so I definitely don’t want that to come across in the wrong way.

However, at the same time, the fact is that mums are often the default parent, feeling like we’re being pulled from pillar to post. As a rule of thumb we’re the ones organising and attending appointments, the ones making sure they’re at their groups/clubs, the ones called by school when they’re ill, the ones expected to be able to drop everything at a seconds notice. And we know this when we choose to have kids, but that doesn’t mean that we have to lose ourselves in the process. You’ll hear people saying “you can’t pour from an empty cup” and they’re completely right; trying to have the energy to be there for everyone all the time, is absolutely exhausting and it can really feel like life goes by on autopilot.

It definitely doesn’t help that society seems to judge us whatever we do. Go to work, and you’re told you’ll be missing out, decide to be a stay at home mum, and trust me you’ll be judged left right and centre for pretty much everything you do. Given that we will be judged regardless, doesn’t it make sense that we maybe start making a little more time for ourselves?

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