50 days of River

Fifty days of River: Connection, isolation and everything in between.

writing

  • Day 28: Balloons, Beige Snacks and Social Media Pressure

    Morning Calm The day started slowly, Summer asking for new games to be downloaded on her iPad. River was content with his usual. At 9.30am the mood became more energetic, the iPad had died! Suddenly, it was lots of ‘Monkey on the Bed’ and acrobatics. I split my head open when I was little doing… Read more

  • Day 26: Taking the break when it comes

    Kike got up with River this morning. We’re all still groggy after the holiday. We didn’t make it to Summer’s 9am swimming lesson, but honestly, I feel like she’s done plenty of swimming over the last week. Last night we folded the clean clothes and today I managed to put everything away as if we’d… Read more

  • Day 25: Home

    The Morning After River slept through and woke at 6.30am. I woke up feeling like I’d been hit by a truck. My arms ached, I know I should actually lift weights like Kike. I honestly think I’m going to have to. River isn’t getting any smaller and I don’t see ‘keeping him safe’ being something… Read more

  • Day 21: The Fine Line Between Helicopter Parenting and Chaos

    Morning Mood: Realising I’m Doing Too Much I woke up grumpy today. Not “wrong side of the bed” grumpy, more “why am I packing everyone’s emotional and physical suitcases all the time” grumpy. Even on holiday, I’m making sure everyone has what they need for breakfast, that iPads are charged, that Summer’s at her swimming… Read more

  • Day 19: The Plan Actually Worked

    A Night of Mr Worldwide River actually enjoyed some of the entertainment last night. He found a little circular planting area and walked round and round in time to the music like it was his personal racetrack. Summer, meanwhile, was at the front making friends and getting very involved in the quiz. Our room is… Read more

  • Day 16: The Night Before

    The Spark of an Idea A few months ago, I was feeling a bit sorry for myself, another summer looming with no holiday plans, when I came across an article about new SEND-friendly resorts offered by TUI. I had a click. It looked promising. The staff are all “trained” in working with neurodiversity, which probably… Read more

  • Day 15: Six Hours of Me (Sort Of)

    A Different Kind of Start 7am start, not too bad. He’s in a good mood as always and happily comes skipping into the living room. I leave Summer for another hour or so while I make her lunch and get myself ready because today is… my time off. Kike is taking River to work. I… Read more

  • Day 1: Dawnosaurs

    Day 1: Dawnosaurs Woke up at 6am, not normally awake at this time even when I’m working, let alone during the holidays. But today was the first day, and as people who know me will tell you… I start strong and then slowly decline, both physically and mentally.So we’re starting with a bang! Today was… Read more

  • Day 0: The Night Before

    “The house is quiet. The fridge is empty. And the somewhat empty Google calendar scares me.” Today was the last day of nursery. No handover, just a quiet end — one minute he was in term-time routine, the next minute we were in summer. We went to the park to celebrate, because that’s what you’re… Read more