Description

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Are you the parent of a neurodiverse or deeply-feeling child?

Have you found yourself battling for an EHCP or navigating the traditional education system, a specialist provision or the everyone-at-home experience without much support?

Or perhaps you’re in overwhelm or burn out, lost under the weight and responsibility that comes from parenting a complex child?

If you find yourself saying yes to any of the above, then you’re in good company!

This journal is a hand held out in the darkness, offering you a path back to yourself. It shows you how, by understanding your own needs and practising comforting, energising, hits-the-spot self-care, you can power through the ups and downs of parenting a neurodiverse family. With short journalling prompts and imaginative activities designed specifically for this parenting experience, it provides a warm sense of community, ensuring you feel completely held as you discover how to regulate and centre yourself and how to enliven life beyond your role as a parent or carer.

Part fill-in journal and part anecdotal memoir, Wide Open Spaces unpacks how you can come to understand your child’s dysregulated behaviours and communicate with them in a way that makes your life easier. From supporting your child’s emotional literacy and coping with big emotions, to rapport building, PDA, co-dependency and more, gentle, easy-to-follow advice runs throughout.

Wide Open Spaces is a kind, insightful and uplifting read that guides you, cheerily, in the direction of peace, and a more balanced and fulfilled family life.

What makes it different from other parenting books?

This book isn’t going to add to your load. I think that’s the fundamental difference. It’s soothing and kind of holds you for a moment and allows you to rest in its pages.

“It’s light and funny as well as insightful and shows you how to actually do a bit less and start investing in yourself (yes, even when you feel that’s utter craziness and you don’t have time) and how that’s actually the thing that’s going to save you.”

– Feedback from a parent of two neurosparkly kids

What topics does it cover?

Here’s a small selection of what’s explored:

The capacity gap – what to do when your days don’t add up

How to create a soft landing place in your week

Proper self-care – how to dig deeper than the quick fixes your brain preten

Publisher Review

Lou Fearn is the wise, perfectly imperfectly Mum every neurodivergent child wishes their parent could have a cup of tea and a quick chat with - and now they can! -- Emma Marlin, Psychotherapist (MBACP Accredited) Here is a wellbeing book for parents and carers full of warmth from a relatable author. This book will be your friend and confidant and is filled with practical tips that will help you to create personalised self-care solutions and boost your mental resources when you need them most. -- Debby Elley, author, co-founder of AuKids Magazine and mother of twin Autistic sons If you parent or care for a deeply feeling child, then this is your next right thing. It supported me to think, do life and rest in a way that's helped us all. -- Lucy Gillett, Children's Occupational Therapist (BSc and MSc), Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and parent of a deeply feeling child An exceptionally well written, moving and informed read where the personal anecdotes were incredibly sensitively written and honest. Short chapters with opportunities for reflection, practical steps and useful resources. Ideal for a busy parent. -- Crispin Taylor, Retired Head of CAMHS