Every parent hopes to give birth to a healthy child, but what happens when things don't go according to our hopes or plans?

Are you prepared for the possibly of your child having a medical condition that requires medical interventions and consistent care?

This week, Kate Tuckwell shares the complexities and experiences of parenting her son, who has Treacher-Collins Syndrome. Treacher-Collins Syndrome is a congenital condition that affects the bones and tissues of the face.

In this episode, Kate talks candidly about the moment she knew that their lives would never be the same again. She also shares what those first 18 months were like, how her and her husband have adapted, what family life is like now with 2 children, and her hopes for the future. Kate lastly discusses the realities of fighting for funding, finding support and community online, plus the importance of visibility.

Mentioned in the Episode:

Changing Faces

Jono Lancaster - Instagram

Not All Heroes Wear Capes - book by Jono Lancaster

Wonder - film

Contact Kate:

Twitter

Music:

Grant McLachlan

In 2003, Lori’s son Braden was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. This milestone event changed her focus from teaching elementary students to advocating for all children and inclusive education. In this frank conversation Lori talks about what it's like to have raised a son with additional needs.

What you will learn:

• What skills and emotional resources you need as a parent of a child with additional needs
• Ways in which to support your other children to ensure that they feel loved and secure too
• Why toxic positivity alienates rather than includes

Lori shares the joys of parenting Braden, as well as some of their greatest challenges as parents. She also invites us into understanding the external conversations around autism, including reactions from strangers, toxic positivity, and how we can all do better for families navigating additional needs.

Mentioned in this episode:

Temple Grandin

Dr Stephen Shore

SENIA International

Contact Lori:

LinkedIn

Twitter

Music: Grant McLachlan

Being a death care tutor is probably one of the most unusual jobs there is. Every single human being is going to die, but despite this, death and dying are still considered a taboo subject in many societies.

In this episode, we're going to the heart of the subject. With a wealth of knowledge and a passion for their work, Angie, a seasoned death care professional, shares their unique experiences and insights about teaching people to care for the dead.

What you will learn:

• What complexities may occur with the practical management of a body
• How death care and funeral have changed in the last 30 years
• Why death care is important to everyone - and it's not what you think.

Angie talks about their work as a tutor and the Ichabod Death Dummies™ they've created to give students a real as possible experience as possible. In this open discussion, Angie talks about the diverse and practical aspects of death care, why they teach this work and why it's important to all us.

Whether you are curious about the intricacies of death care, or just what to know what an is Ichabod Death Dummy™, this episode is for you. Angie's conversation might even challenge your perceptions about death, dying, and the art and science of death care.

With 30 years experience, Angie provides bespoke and ethical practical care workshops and talks about death care. Assisted for nearly a decade, by The Ichabodies Death Dummies™, Angie designed and built the bodies to demonstrate some of the more complex and common health-care issues. They help students and professionals to ask questions and start 'difficult' conversations. Angie teaches across the UK to funeral service professionals, death doulas and soul midwives, hospice volunteers, community support groups and charities, and also private clients who wish to know more about caring a family member at home.

Contact Angie:

LinkedIn

Motsabi grew up as a ‘mixed-race’ child in the 1990s in the UK in a blended family in which she was the only person of colour. Her parents took a ‘colour blind’ approach to raising her which meant she ended up navigating the experiences of race and racism on her own. As a result, Motsabi spent much of her childhood believing there was something wrong with her and suffering from high levels of internalised racism, low levels of self esteem and generalised anxiety.

She now works to prevent that happening to other Mixed or Black children. Her work focuses on empowering parents & carers to cultivate positive racial identity, belonging and strong self-esteem in children of ‘Mixed’ and ‘Black’ heritage, who live in predominantly white communities.

Today, Motsabi talks about how to be aware of when and where your child might experience racism, ways in which to prepare them for life outside of your family, and offers a variety of tips to help parents to embed a strong sense of identity, confidence and self esteem into their Mixed or Black heritage children.

Contact Motsabi

Website

Email

Instagram

Facebook

Music By

Grant McLachlan

Receiving the diagnosis of a life-limiting illness is not what anyone wants to hear. Yet, is it the doom and gloom so many fear? In this episode, Maria Baggaley Runningwater shares her experience of a cancer diagnosis, how she has chosen to live and offers an approach that could benefit everyone.

Maria is also a good friend of my wife and mine. She’s a beekeeper, a soap maker, a deeply spiritual woman.

Maria’s approach to her diagnosis has given me a lot to think about and I know after listening to Maria, you’ll have lots to think about too.

Maria's meditations:

Listen Now

A series of meditations and activities to assist development of positive personal growth and spiritual awareness.

Episode information:

Music by Grant McLachlan

Regina Petra Meyer is someone who chose to follow her desire for an adventure. So many people dream about adventures, but never do them and regret it. But when we do follow our dreams, it brings all kinds of life experiences, we never imagined. It also often challenges other people, including ourselves!

This week, Regina talks about her experiences of living her dream. She shares the challenges of saying yes to the adventure, the joys it brings, - and reminds us that if it doesn't work out, to make sure you have a credit card at hand to fly home!

Follow Regina:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Website

Episode information:

Music by Grant McLachlan

After experiencing 6 deaths of people close to her, and most recently her son's, Antonia reflects on these key moments in her life. She shares wisdom about the evolution of her experiences of grief and the ways in which she has chosen to transmute it.

Follow Antonia:

Twitter

Facebook

Website

UK Resources:

Samaritans – FREE Help – Tel: 116 123, E: jo@samaritans.org

Adfam – help for families dealing with drug and alcohol addiction

Al Anon – Family group support alcohol addiction, drug addiction and addictive behaviours

Mind – Addiction and Dependency Support

NHS Mental Health Services

The British Psychology Society – Find a Psychologist

Episode information:

Music by Grant McLachlan