A Little Help From My Friends

I spoke to a friend on the phone the other week. It was just an innocuous conversation, but part way through I found myself telling her about an 'incident' that had occurred in our house that day.

The conversation that followed was everything I could have wanted from someone in my support network. Here's why:

• She did not freak out
• She listened to what I had to say, without judgement
• She acknowledged what had happened and did not try to brush it off with a dismissive 'all kids do that' sort of comment
• She did not try to defend the indefensible 
• She acknowledged my feelings about it all
• She asked me a few open questions with a view to heading towards a plan
• She let me work out the plan for myself, out loud, while making the odd encouraging noise
• She expressed full support for the plan, and promised to check in with me to see how it was going
• She urged me to speak to her any time about it, and reassured me that it was right for me to be supported while I do what I have to do

It isn't rocket science but it's what every parent needs from time to time, especially parents and carers of children with additional needs of all kinds.

Daily, I find myself giving thanks for my support network. They walk this road with me in all kinds of ways and I couldn't do it without them.