Creatively different parenting

 A housing conundrum Our house is not suitable. It's a lovely house, in a lovely area, but its private rented so as well as being expensive it is also not suitable to make any adaptations to. We have been on the council list for at least a year now and today we got the call I've been waiting for, they want to offer us a property!! However, there's a glitch or two. Why can things never be easy?? We are also in the running for a bungalow nearby. Of course this would be far better for our needs, however although we are first in line for it there is a small issue of our age. The property is listed for over 55's only. Not so unusual given that most bungalows are required for people who are over 55. But I am not. Neither is my daughter who lives with us, nor will my baby be when its born in April. We do however meet all the other criteria for this property (requiring 3 bedrooms, requiring ground floor, requiring ramps etc). Bromford Housing who own the property have said that...

 Melancholy Monday Mondays are always not great for me, partly because it's the start of the week, and partly because it's the day I see me CPN (Community Psychiatric Nurse if you don't know what it stands for). Sitting, talking about the way I'm feeling is hard. It's hard to recognise those feelings, and its even harder to rationalize them in my messed up head. I know that the feelings are normal and they come with the trauma I've experienced in may past, but knowing that doesn't seem to make it any easier. This weekend we went out on both days, and at both locations I witnessed children interacting with their parents. They would only have been 3 or 4 years old, and they were having fun, running around and being lively. Watching this made me smile, knowing it wont be long before I have my baby in my arms, snuggled and safe, but it also made my scared. What if I can't chase after them, what if I don't have the strength to lift them up for a cuddle, w...

 A wheely big problem One of the biggest challenges I have found (as well as dealing with all the 'Joy' that pregnancy and severe morning sickness brings) is that prams and pushchairs are not designed for people with disabilities. We've googled, we've shopped, and we've been to baby shows galore, but no brand on the current UK market, or the international market come to that, is compatible for a wheelchair user. We've seen what we want: The trouble is it doesn't exist. Well, that's not strictly true, It does, but only in prototype form. It's not been produced... ANYWHERE??!! Try an engineering firm, a disabled bike manufacturer, try a local college I thought, there has to be someone who would like to make this contraption for us? Well how wrong I was. That was until I saw a Facebook advertisement for a set of stairs made by Cirencester Fabrication Services... I sent them a cheeky message, after all it couldn't do any harm could it? "Hey, fan...

  Welcome to my blog! So you might have found me because you already know me, or you might be interested in the additional challenges parenting with a disability brings. Or maybe you've come to have a laugh with me through the challenges I face and to share in the moments of glory I achieve. Well, however you found me, and why ever you're  here, welcome! For those of you who haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting me, my name is Laura and I am 38 years old. I suffer from a plethora of disabilities such as complex PTSD, Rheumatoid Arthritis and HEDS. This has left me as a wheelchair and crutch full time user for the past 2 years. At the beginning of my disability journey I was very resentful, wondering why me, and when the real me was going to come back. As the time has gone on, I have found myself more resilient, more accepting and more embracing of the challenges being disabled brings. This sense of acceptance has given me more strength and purpose, and fo...