Every Tom, Dick & Harry is yelling at you to set goals... easy for them to say when they don't have the unpredictability of caring for a child with complex or additional needs to contend with as well as work. So much of the goal setting stuff out there at this time of year is well meaning but mostly unrealistic for working parent carers who are already stretched to the limit. So, here's a podcast dedicated to goal setting specifically for parent carers that will help you to:See that your goals can be unique to you - having a half day a week to yourself is every bit as worthy of the title 'big goal' as a mediterranean cruise!Create flexibility in your goals so that you don't feel disappointed when life gets in the way.See that little goals often are every bit as valid as big goals sparsely.Choose and create your goal(s) for 2024 - yes it's fine if there's only 1!I'd love to hear how you get on so do let me know ([email protected]) and if you'd like to go further, why not sign up for my new Get, Set, Go Programme (4 weeks via Zoom) - just email for more info.Much love,Claire x

So many women who are parent carers feel like they have no choice but to leave work as the demands of caring for a disabled child while also juggling work commitments just simply no longer work for them.Without amazingly strong support systems including childcare, which is often difficult to secure for disabled children, working the traditional 9-5 just isn't workable.In this episode of the Braving the Wild: SEND Help Podcast, I share my story of moving from 9-5 to self-employed. It's an informal episode with lots more juice coming on this topic later on.Even though I've been working as a business advisor since 2007, coming at it from the other side of the table was a whole other ball game. Thankfully, I've come out the other side with a good plan for moving forward, but self employment is definitely not the easiest choice.Here, I'll share my story, talk about some of the challenges I faced, the business advice that really rubs me up the wrong way and what I'd love you to remember if you decide to go down the self-employed route too.

In part 1 of the Survival to Thrival episode we introduced you to our SNACK acronym - a framework to help you reduce overwhelm and thrive as a busy parent juggling work with managing the care of a child with complex or additional needs. We gave you lots of ideas for Simplifying everyday tasks and for embedding self care/ Nuturing practices.In this episode, we explore. lots of ideas for Asking for help, making Connections and supporting resilience & balance AKA Kilter

In this episode, I touch on the very real problem of school refusal with neuro-divergent children or children with high levels of anxiety around school.There's a huge difference in a child who just doesn't want to go to school and one who has anxiety around it. My eldest doesn't want to go to school and would happily sit at home, but my youngest has big anxieties around school that knock his self-esteem, lead to him saying horrible things about himself and major meltdowns most mornings.In this episode, I talk about my experiences of having to switch off from mummy mode and the guilt & failure I've often felt so that I can switch on 'work mode'.I also give 5 tips that have supported me on this journey and that I hope will help you too.If you'd like. to work with me, hows how you can: - Book a mentoring session where I can help. you to navigate the emotions you're experiencing and make a plan moving forward - Have your work hire me to do a bespoke workshop in your organisation (I can run workshops on a range of topics around supporting parent carers in the workplace. Just email me at [email protected] for more info.

With so much to do, so much to remember, so many places to be in this balancing game of work, parenthood and caring, it can be so easy to get stuck in ;survival' mode, and it's exhausting.It doesn't have to be this way though.In part 1 of this 2 part episode, I'll introduce you to a 5-step framework for moving from Survival to Thrival mode, and share easily implementable tips and hacks for creating more clarity, reducing decision fatigue and looking after you.You'll learn how having a SNACK (Simplify, Nurture, Ask, Connect, Kilter) can help make life much easier so you can free up mental and physical space to do the things that really matter to you as a parent, carer and employer or entrepreneur.In this episode we deep delve into the Simplify and Nurture elements of the framework and in the next episode (coming soon), I'll share advice on how to ask for help, build connection and create balance and resilience.In this 2 part episode, I'll help you to:Reduce overwhelmEnhance your well-beingBecome a stronger advocate for yourself (and in-turn your children)Build strong connectionsDevelop an unwavering sense of resilience.You can also download my Thrival Guide as a useful accompaniment to this 2-part episode here.

In this first episode of the Braving the Wild: SEND Help podcast, I share my story of being a working SEND Mum, from diagnosis through to starting my own business and pivoting to support working parents of children with additional needs. I also share my top 5 learnings that I hope you'll resonate with.Make sure you don't miss episode 2 by signing up to the Braving the Wild mailing list here.