Tag: family
Being Bettina’s Dad: Building a relationship
We had booked into the outdoor activity centre ‘Redridge’ at the end of the 1990s, a place Bettina and I were to visit annually for a number of years where we rock climbed, abseiled, trekked, canoed and even walked up a mountain together.
Being Bettina’s Mum & Dad: Ogres of Optimism
Over the years we have nudged many professionals working with Bettina out of their comfort zones by persuading them to take risks and push Bettina’s knowledge and skills forward, on the basis that until we do this we will not know what she is capable of achieving.
When being takes over blogging
When we are young we have little, or no, sense of time slipping through our fingers. We cannot imagine what it will be like to get older, have responsibilities or feel a sense of mortality – which is absolutely how it should be.
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.
My Happy Place
As I descend the steps from the Saxonville Hotel, I cross into Ladysmith Avenue turning left into Argyle Road. The Met is on my left and the sea is straight in front of me. I am again in my ‘Happy Place’ I am in Whitby for our annual family holiday. I first started coming to… Read More ›
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!
