Welcome to The Survive & Thrive Support for Summer Newsletter.
If there is one thing we know about parenting a child with additional needs, it’s that life rarely goes according to any plan! Perhaps you've planned a summer holiday, a specific educational path, or even just a simple outing, only to hit a sudden roadblock and have to shift everything at a moment's notice.
When plans fall apart, it’s easy to feel like we’ve failed, or that the peaceful future we wanted and anticipated has completely vanished. The disappointment is real and it's important to allow space to acknowledge your feelings about the unexpected.
However, when you hit those moments of total disruption, this week we are suggesting that you experiment with a method we call The GPS Method.
It comes from thinking about how a satellite navigation system works when you are driving. When you miss a turn or hit a closed road, the system doesn’t sigh, get angry, or tell you to give up and park the car forever. It doesn't scold you for missing the exit, and it doesn't judge your driving skills.
It just quietly, neutrally says one word: Recalculating.
No matter how many detours you are forced to take, the route simply changes.
When your plans change this week or in the coming weeks, whilst your frustration and disappointment are real and important to acknowledge - you do not have to view it as a personal disaster or a sign that you are doing it wrong.
You may notice other parents all driving along the expected route, seemingly happy and without all the obstacles in their way. This can really add to the frustration and feelings of it all being unfair.
It often IS unfair. They are on a different path and it's ok for us to yearn for the easy route that doesn't require any detours, but that's not our way. We are the ones who become experts at the 3-point turn, the u-turn and the scenic detours!
This Week’s Journal Prompts
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Where do I need to simply say "recalculating"?
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Think of a plan, an expectation, or a milestone that completely shifted recently. Can you try to view it neutrally, without blaming yourself, your child, or anyone else? Is your journey just going to take longer now? Perhaps even the destination needs to change?
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What changes if I remove the judgment?
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Imagine treating your next parenting hurdle the exact way a GPS treats a missed turn: no guilt, no shame, just finding the next logistical move. What would change inside your body if you took the blame out of the detour?
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What is one small "scenic route" joy?
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Sometimes a forced detour takes us somewhere unexpected. Is there a small, beautiful thing, a quiet insight, or a moment of raw connection you’ve experienced recently only because an original plan fell through?
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You are not alone in finding these twists, turns and deviations challenging. We are all just recalculating our way forward together.
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 route you're recalculating this week!
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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
