Stuck At Home Mum

Stuck At Home Mum

It’s an awful thing to admit, but if I’m honest sometimes I feel like I’m a stuck at home mum – not a stay at home one. Because when it comes to doing anything with my two children outside of our house on my own, I really struggle. Mainly because it’s impossible to make sure that they’re both safe. And, well – that’s the priority isn’t it?

Brody has no danger awareness. And he’ll happily attempt to run off if I let go of his hand. Shouting “stop” or calling his name goes over his head. He cannot talk and struggles to follow basic instructions. His physical disabilities mean that his legs tire easily and he can’t walk distances (we thankfully have a wheelchair). Sometimes he’ll simply refuse to walk and he is now so tall and heavy that I just can’t carry him around.

Our one year old Sydney can walk and talk quite well for her age. But she is very much a typical toddler – stubborn and a perfectionist when it comes to almighty tantrums (she’s going to give the terrible twos a run for their money). So I can’t yet go out without her buggy.

So how do I go out with them on my own?

 

I can’t.

 

To be honest, it’s not even an easy task getting them in and out of the car safely on my own a lot of the time.

I can’t push a wheelchair and a buggy at the same time. Brody is far too big for a double buggy and even if he wasn’t, they would take great delight in walloping each other if they sat next to each other (ah brother and sisterly love).

Simple things like walking them round the block are a no go because if Brody refuses or cannot walk, carrying him isn’t an option. So I just can’t risk it.

I’ll admit I haven’t mastered the art of “wearing” Sydney – as I know that this is something some people can do. Even if I did, getting her in and out of the bloody thing whilst trying to keep her brother safe would not be an easy task (*hides from baby wearers*).

In a park or at soft play, the lack of danger awareness thing and Sydney being so little means that there is no way I can leave either of them to play unsupervised.

Supermarket trolleys (and I am eternally grateful for the Firefly GoTo ones trust me) only fit one child, so the supermarket is out of bounds.

The sad thing is I don’t even feel confident anymore going to friends’ houses with the two of them. I can’t sit down and leave them to wander and I can’t follow them both when they go in different directions. Most friends don’t need stairgates anymore or don’t have to worry about things like hot drinks being grabbed or breakables being within reach.

The long and short of it is this – I need to ensure that my children are safe and if I’m on my own with them being at home is the only way I can do that without help (and I hate asking for help).  

I am eternally grateful to Brody’s nursery because when he is there it means that both he and Sydney currently have more opportunities to do things other than being stuck in the house together playing with me or watching YouTube and fighting. And when he isn’t at nursery, without my Mum I would have quite possibly lost my sanity since Sydney was born. I kid you not.

At the weekend, it of course all changes when Daddy is home, but we admittedly sometimes stay at home as a family too because Brody is so unpredictable when out and about these days. We like to go to as many places as possible and we don’t want them missing out on anything. But sometimes his disabilities and sensory issues, combined with not being able to tell us how he feels or what he wants, makes it hard to keep him happy. It’s a constant guessing game. And it’s frustrating for everybody. We’re slowly getting better at knowing what places might and might not work – but we quite often get it wrong.

Home is our safe place. It’s our happy place too. But sometimes the situation can leave me feeling utterly useless and like a crap Mum. And it makes me feel a million times worse if people don’t get it, which quite often they don’t. Or they compare it to having typical children, which is always helpful.

I am hopeful of course that this situation isn’t forever and that one day it will get easier. Maybe Brody’s understanding will improve. And when Sydney grows older she’ll be able to walk alongside his wheelchair if need be and will thankfully have awareness of dangers and be able to understand dos and don’ts (I know she won’t always conform).

Who knows, maybe one day I’ll also be able to return to work when they’re both at school (I’ll factor in appointments and different schools in different villages somehow).

But right now, some days I am pretty much a stuck at home mum – who tries not to feel constantly guilty about it or care what others think.

But I do.

 

A version of this blog originally appeared on Family Fund.

 

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11 Comments

  1. January 20, 2017 / 2:51 pm

    Definately could have written this myself. I’m still squashing nearly four year old Grace into a double buggy but can’t last much longer!!

  2. Kirsty
    February 1, 2017 / 1:37 pm

    I could have written this too. My only difference is one of my children is 19 with the littlest at nearly 3 having the same issues as Brody. I’m a single mum with health issues of my own and it’s damn hard some days so I can easily relate.xx

    • February 1, 2017 / 5:44 pm

      That doesn’t sound easy at all Kirsty. Big hugs. I hope it gets easier for you xxx

  3. February 15, 2017 / 8:19 pm

    I could have written so much of this. I have a high functioning autistic home educated 7yo who often refuses point blank to leave the house. My 5yo and 3yo are also challenging when we’re out at the mo. A trip to the local park on Monday left me feeling like I don’t even want to attempt to go out with all three by myself again for the foreseeable future.

    No judgement, honest, and I hope you’ll forgive me for saying this, but having Freddy (my 3yo) in a sling was the only way I did anything for the first two years. Might be worth giving it a shot, the Ergo is very good and not complicated. You can pick them up on eBay for £15… just a thought.

    Sending hugs, and lots of coffee xxx

    • February 16, 2017 / 6:17 pm

      Thanks lovely. No offence taken at all, appreciate the advice. xxx

  4. Tas
    February 15, 2017 / 11:25 pm

    Fantastic read I felt like someone had published my journal if I hadn’t of read your children’s names. It’s how I feel having autistic twin boys as a single parent and often feel we are under house arrest and even isolated at times because I feel too they are much safer indoors where I can supervise them better especially my youngest twin who is very accident prone and always falling over. Just trying to get them ready everyday for school is very mentally and physically draining both will have meltdowns and refuse to get ready. I feel exhausted like I have done a full days work afterwards.

    • February 16, 2017 / 6:18 pm

      Thanks Tas. That really does sound exhausting. I really hope things get easier for you. x

  5. Lee butterfield
    February 16, 2017 / 1:28 am

    Hi I can relate to your story. I’m a stay at home dad, I live on my own with 2 boys which 1 as global development delay and ASD he can be very challenging and find it hard on a daily basis but wouldn’t change him for the world. Would say it gets easier but unfortunately it doesn’t.

    Taking him to the shop can be a real struggle but I take him places hoping in time he will be much easier. The worse things is people that don’t understand as they stare and look with disgust.

    • February 16, 2017 / 6:19 pm

      Thanks Lee. I agree, half of our problems would be a lot easier if people understood. Here’s hoping time is on our side and things get a bit easier x

  6. Pingback: I Am Not Super Mum

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