about the unspecial mum
I'm Lucy, mum to Rufus, aged 8 and his two sisters, aged 4 and 10. I’m married to Dan and we live in Greater Manchester, UK. When I’m not special needs parenting I like to read, sing, watch obscure documentaries, walk in the woods, drink too much coffee, dance to late 90s classics, eat out with friends and go on fun dates with my other half. In 2014 Rufus was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome and instantly I became a special needs mum. Well-meaning people tried to make me feel better by telling me things like ‘God only gives special children to special people.’ Wrong. Children with special needs are born into all kinds of families. Some are truly amazing, most of us are absolutely average and some, sadly, are just not cut out to care for their needs.
We are not special.
We are not brave.
We are not superparents.
We are unspecial.
“I’m not saying we’re worthless. Far from it. But we certainly don’t all have a Masters in special needs parenting, magical powers to make our children sleep and unbreakable backs to carry them up and down the stairs until they are adults... ”
I’m not saying we’re worthless. Far from it. But we certainly don’t all have a Masters in special needs parenting, magical powers to make our children sleep and unbreakable backs to carry them up and down the stairs until they are adults. We are just ordinary people trying to go about our lives just like anyone else who is doing the best with what they’ve been given. Plenty of people have done it before us, we’re doing it right now and you WILL be able to do it too. So join me as I untangle my thoughts on special need parenting and hopefully show you how to do this life with a smile on your face too.