Being Bettina’s dad

My inspiration for what I do

Being Bettina’s Dad: Being a Dad

This post is about on being a Dad to Bettina and how it has helped me with my leadership skills and hopefully to become a better leader (and a better person).

Bettina’s 2016 year in pictures

With thanks to all those who have liked read our ‘Being Bettina’s Dad’ series on the blog and twitter.

Being Bettina’s Dad: Finding your inner child and not forgetting to lose it

My life is not all about work (despite what some people might think) it is also about Castles, Magic, Dragons, Fantastic Beasts, slapstick comedy, love, romance, Pirates and Sinbad and happy endings. It’s also about surprises, fun and laughter.

Being Bettina’s Dad: Bettina’s lessons in Concentration and Focus

During my participation in athletics in the 1980/90s, I modelled my levels of concentration on other athletes such as Sally Gunnell, Seb Coe and Steve Cram, closely watching them prior to races as they physically and mentally prepared for their next winning performance and taking the best bits to build my own model of concentration and focus.

Being Bettina’s Dad: To be someone must be a wonderful thing

I have just spent a whole week with Bettina in Whitby and being around her 24/7 inspired me to write this post because if anyone is “No 1 and liked by everyone” it is Bettina.

Being Bettina’s Dad – What Bettina taught me when supporting a person

A question I am often asked since leaving the Army to support people with learning disabilities has been, “I suppose getting involved in this work has helped you support your daughter, Bettina with her care?” I remember being asked this question by a fellow Area Manager when we met up for lunch some years ago. I found myself saying, “Actually it is the other way around.”

Being Bettina’s Dad and being married to Bettina’s Whisperer

In the late 1980s, Autism was not as well known or shared as it is today. When it came to explaining the condition Bettina was coping with to family and friends, we often resorted to asking if they had seen ‘Rain Man’, a ground breaking film at the time with Dustin Hoffman.

Being Bettina’s Dad: Bettina transforming my life with mindfulness

So many people who have been part of Bettina’s life have described the effect she has had on them just by being in her presence, so it isn’t just her proud parents who feel this way. We have described her as being “spiritual” without coming up with a profound understanding of what this means and what it is that she gives out. Until now!

Being Bettina’s Mum & Dad: Discovery & Endurance

For Steve and me, it has been good to revisit some of the earlier days with Bettina, especially as time goes by so quickly you tend to forget some of the achievements and some of the forks in the road you have to take.