by Tasha Turner
Next Monday, Anna Kennedy OBE will use her regular slot on Sky ‘s Chrissy B Show to highlight the importance of ‘Take 5’ for Parents of children who have a disability. She told us “I know its never easy especially if you are a one parent family.”
She added “As a parent of 2 young men we all have days when the pressure of the week can get too much. I have recently been speaking to mums and dads who are feeling stretched above their limits and receiving a low level of support especially during the school holidays.”
Kennedy is set to discuss how parents are trying their best juggling care, mum’s taxi service, giving advice, reading some of those wonderful Special Educational Needs documents that are thrown at you. She added “You are looking out for ‘Where’s the catch?’ and written almost in another language which you have to familiarise yourself with jargon used in the Special Educational Needs world. This is all on a few hours sleep if your lucky and parents grabbing a cat nap here and there if the opportunity occurs.”
Kennedy emphasizes that “Sometimes we just need a quiet 5 mins whatever it maybe to do. A cup of tea and a chocolate biscuit, listen to a couple of your favourite songs that remind you of your youth or go out onto the trampoline and have a jump.”
She added “Its about doing something different like what works for me is my Zumba, I find it a great stressbuster and helps recharge my batteries.”
The show’s summary centres around Kennedy giving a message of hope, she explains “Autism can be challenging not only for us parents but for the individual who you care for, love and cherish. We are the glue holding everything together so I am talking about and to some parents on the show about taking 5 minutes as and when you can, even if its to shut yourself in the bathroom and have a scream!”
