It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
Charles Dickens – A Tale of Two Cities
Never before has a quote so aptly summed up the last year of my life.
Quite literally it feels like a tale of two dice.
As I roll one die I am faced with the worst possible scenario: my child was removed from what she believed to be her ‘dream school.’ Coupled with emerging needs that have presented for my other two children, doubt has been cast on my parenting skills once again. This has led to a series of events that have buried us deeper and which in turn have made the situation far more complex.
Rolling that die has led to pain, blame and judgement. There have been no chances thrown down the path for my parent experience to be considered. It is a battle I am still wedged in and trying to find a way legally to fight out of.
And yet, in the same game, another die has been thrown with polar chances and new possibilities.
The children’s book, that I co-authored with my good friend Harry Thompson, has gone into production and will be published next spring. A resource that will be created to support other young people because my views on the subject were deemed valid.
I have also been asked to return back to do a talk for a university on our experience of PDA – for all of the prospective educational psychologists that will be emerging in the coming years. Once again, my experience and views are being used informatively. A return to voluntary work that I find fulfilling.
Last but not least this blog has reached the finals for the 2021 BAPS Awards which celebrate many of the bloggers and supporters from the SEND world.
It couldn’t be any more poignant and emotional when I consider how low we have been pushed this year.
More so, for the two categories we made it in: Truth about SEND and Educating Education. Well, they pretty much sum up the horrendous battles of the last year. Only this time, those views are being celebrated and not the harsh reality that my local services are keeping me out of the process.
It is even more emotional as I’ve been made to question the purpose of writing a blog and whether it causes more harm than good. This platform was stated as a contentious reason why professionals do not want to work with my family. It was why they had an agenda to bring all professionals around the table to discuss how they could tackle my intimidating behaviour by writing here.
So reaching the finals made me scream and cry in equal measures.
It’s not the die that the professionals intent on bringing me down would have thrown.
And that’s why it is even more powerful.
There are no lies on this page, nor bullying or intimidation as has been described. There is just an attempt to educate educators for the better good. This page is about telling the truth about SEND and I’m glad one of the dice went favourably.
To go back to Dickens; it was the season of darkness, it was the season of light.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
For anyone who would like to vote for our blog, you can find the link to the BAPS Awards here. We are shortlisted for Truth about SEND and Educating Education. There are some wonderful blogs and campaigners on the list, so please do give them support too if you can!