It has been quite tough watching the person you love go through what is actually a really hard experience - although amazing. I have been trying to help by making regular trips to the shop buying her gherkins, chocolate, really really really salt and vinegary chips plus much more. Amy has spent time in-between being poorly editing all of our podcast episodes and updating this little corner of the internet.
As well as this we have moved to Poole to live with Amy’s family. It was a tough decision leaving our life in Cheltenham because we have built a life there over the last four years and had to leave some of our best friends. (Thank god for WhatsApp!) We moved for many reasons - one being the fact I took redundancy, but also because we both feel we might need a bit more support than other new parents. As Amy told her class, we might need a little more help becoming a mummy and daddy.
I am also terrified of how my brain injury is going to affect my ability as a dad - the fact I can’t trust my left hand is my main worry but we have been trying to find ways to overcome this problem. In the words of Amy’s mum ‘no problems only solutions’ something Amy also insists upon! I’m worried I’m going to forget the little things like baby’s first smile, steps or words. I’m lucky, however, because hopefully I’ll forget all of the poonamis! We are already thinking of different ways we can document all of these things so I don’t have to rely on my unreliable memory. I have no doubt in our abilities to love unconditionally - just some of the practicalities of parenthood.
Moving to the beach has been amazing especially during the heat wave! I’m slowly getting used to southern life as a Midlander by birth. I have to say it has not been too much of a challenge getting used to my new life - except the cold sea. I’m told you just need to jump straight in, but I’ve not quite reached that stage yet - more walk a few steps, then a high-pitched squeal, then repeat until shoulders are in. You can clearly take the boy out of the Midlands, but not the Midlands out of the boy!!
I have started attending Headway Dorset which is very different to Headway Gloucestershire, but equally as friendly and welcoming. I have an activity almost every day including working at an allotment. Reaping great rewards like the lettuce I took home this week! It is a good job I’m so busy because Amy managed to get a part-time teaching job for the last half term of school. Although it is tough, I’m glad she’s still keeping up teaching as, from what I’m told, she’s not too bad at it!
I’m sure over the coming months I’ll update more but do check out the podcast because we are both extremely proud and inspired by all of the people we have interviewed. Do subscribe on iTunes or go to the podcast page to listen to all of the episodes so far. New episodes go live every Monday!