Week of Wellbeing – Supporting you to support your family

 We dedicate this blog post in honour of YOU – the amazing people who are the parents and carers of the children we get to work with!

Our society as a whole can get so caught up in the roles we all play for each other that we lose our own identities as a consequence – the essence of who we really are. It’s as if we function as human DOings rather than human BEings.

By embarking on a path that leads us back to ourselves; we in turn develop greater capacity to reach our full potential as parents, carers, co-workers, siblings, offsprings, friends – whatever roles we play! 

Read on for some insights and ideas that may help you reclaim your human BEing!

As a speech therapy practice, one of the main focuses for our therapists is on connecting with your child through fun and engaging ways, tapping into their individual quirks and interests, and drawing on their strengths. We also spend time collaborating with parents, teachers and other key people in your child’s life, to help support their communication needs.

We coordinate care to help your child develop new skills, reach their full potential and thrive!

What you may not know about us, is that we are also committed to supporting YOU as the parents and carers of the children we work with.

We understand the monumental task of managing families, home and work life; let alone adding to the mix the unique challenges families are faced with, with children experiencing delays, complex situations, special needs or learning difficulties. We hear you loud and clear.

As the Airplane Analogy goes, we need to put on our own oxygen mask and support ourselves first, in order to help others. Putting ourselves first may go against our instincts, but once we take care of our own needs, there’s a much greater outcome for all involved.

When it comes to ourselves, how do we lose oxygen? Our life-force? We can get so caught up in the business of BUSY-ness, that we lose touch with ourselves and disconnect from what we really need. 

There is absolutely a time for actions and progress. We also have a choice in taking moments to pause, take a step back and accept our environment as it is; much like the cycle and patterns of nature.

With the changing of seasons upon us, it’s the perfect time to slow down and reconnect with ourselves and release habits, beliefs and thoughts that do not serve us and add to the pressures of our daily life. 

Once we let go of all the “shoulds”, “musts”, “have to’s” and replace them with “I choose to”, “I want to”, “I get to”; we then create space for new energies and opportunities to emerge, and we begin to enjoy the journey a little more. 

We invite you to stop doing and start being! 

WEEK of WELLBEING

We want to share some ideas for you to try in order to support you in resisting your human doing and reclaiming your human being. Choose for yourself if you’d like to try one, some or all of the ideas below – this is an invitation not a prescription!

Mindfulness Monday

Take notice of what you are doing and how you are feeling as you are doing and feeling it. Be aware and fascinated by the physical sensations in your body, your thought patterns, and any emotions that arise with that. Even if it’s a clenched jaw as you wash the dishes for a second time that day and you feel frustrated or bored – just be curious without judgement and see what happens for you in that moment!

Tune in Tuesday

It’s time to get out your favourite tunes and dance like no one’s watching (or sing like no one’s listening!) – whatever feels right for you! Be taken to a place of joy or a younger self, whatever place that’s special to you that you usually don’t get to revisit because you are so absorbed with Wiggles singalongs or dancing to Bluey!

Wellness Wednesday

What better way to start or end the day by releasing endorphins and decreasing sensitivity to stress. Is there room to leave a little earlier for school pick up or drop off to incorporate a walk? Once the children are down for bed can you allow yourself the personal space to go for a walk or find an online yoga class to follow before moving on to the ‘next thing’? Whatever floats your body’s boat!

Thirst-for-knowledge Thursday

We spend so much time each day trying to educate and guide our children or resort to Google to find the answer to something; why not pick a topic that’s unique and special to you and carve out some time to learn more about it? Whether it’s through a documentary, a book, or a YouTube channel, reconnect with your curious inner child through exploration and wonder!

Friendly Friday

Make it a day to connect with a friend, new or old. Go for lunch, give a call or send a quick email, chat or message. You deserve this time to engage with others dear to you and on your wavelength!

Slow-down Saturday

Make this day the antidote to all the running around, chauffeuring and task-juggling during the weekdays. Go gently on yourself, slow-down and take a moment to be with nature and all its glory – feel the grass or sand underneath your feet, or pause in the morning or evening to check out the sky and how it moves during a sunrise or sunset – Mother Nature makes remarkable movies for us every waking moment!

Savour Sunday

This one is all about a healthy mindset – gratitude is a fantastic starting point. Firstly, thank yourself for all you do to support others (and are starting to do for yourself). Rather than thinking of all the things you ‘have’ to do or ‘must’ do, can you turn them into things you ‘get’ to do? Or focus on the things you ‘want’ to do? Lastly, thank your life for all the experiences and learnings it has offered you and makes you the remarkable person you are today It is not what happens…it’s what you do that makes the difference. Every thought we think and every word we speak can influence our mind and body for the better. An ‘attitude of gratitude’ opens up the possibility to experience joy whether its rain, hale or shine – you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain!