Welcome to The Survive & Thrive Support for Summer Newsletter.
How many things are you currently trying to juggle?
When you are supporting a family with additional needs, we know that it usually feels like you are juggling far too many things at once: therapy appointments, school problems, sensory adjustments, sibling needs, dinner, laundry, and maybe even your own vanishing sanity!
It is completely exhausting, and sooner or later, something has to drop. When it does, the parental guilt can be overwhelming.
To survive this juggling game, we feel it can be helpful to understand this simple concept: some of the balls you have in the air are made of plastic, and some are made of glass.
You may have heard of this before and if you have we think it bears repeating.
If you drop a plastic ball, it bounces. No harm done. If you drop a glass ball, it shatters. The secret to surviving is knowing which is which, and trying to prioritise catching the glass ones.
We recognise that in our complex lives, it may not be obvious which ones are made of glass. However, the mistake we often make is thinking that 'family' is one giant glass ball that can never be dropped. It can be helpful, therefore, to think about things being broken down into tiny, separate pieces:
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The Glass Balls: It might be making sure crucial medication is taken, ensuring your child knows you are on their side or making sure you eat for example. These are glass. They need to be caught.
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The Plastic Balls: Some of these are obvious, like matching up the clean laundry, others can be more tricky to spot like remembering things outside your tight family circle. These are plastic. They can drop. They will bounce.
Sometimes, to catch a glass ball for your own well-being: like taking 10 minutes to sit in absolute silence, you have to intentionally let a plastic ball drop. And that is more than okay.
You cannot keep fifty-five balls in the air at all times! Can you give yourself permission to let the plastic ones bounce this week?
This Weekā€™s Journal Prompts
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What are my absolute "glass balls" today?
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If you could only catch three things today to keep your family safe and functioning, what are they? Everything else currently sitting on your to-do list is plastic.
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What plastic ball can I intentionally drop this week?
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Look at your schedule or your household chores. What is something you can actively choose to let go of, knowing it will simply bounce?
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Was it glass, or did it bounce?
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Think about the last time you felt like you failed this week. When you look back at it objectively, was it actually a glass ball that shattered, or a plastic one that bounced? How can you use this view to show yourself more grace next time?
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Connect with us this week:
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Join the discussion: Head over to our private Facebook group [here] to share your reflections. Come tell us what plastic ball you are intentionally letting drop today!
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Looking for deeper support? Remember that you can also book a private 1-to-1 coaching session with us [here] to focus entirely on your own wellbeing, confidence, and needs.
Take care of yourself this week,
Katie & Kate
Co-Founders, The Survive and Thrive Collective
