Additional Needs

How Blogging Has Changed My Life

Posted by Rochelle Followes on 20th October 2016 Additional Needs, Advice & Support, Disabilities

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I’ve always struggled with spelling and grammar, plus I’ve always found it hard to get down on paper what I really want to say.

Because of this I have avoided blogging for a long time, I have ignored the nudges to start putting my feelings onto paper and doubted that I have something worth saying.

Who wants to hear about my life?

How can I make my life sound interesting?

How do I put on paper what I really mean?

How honest should I be?

These are all the barriers I was fighting against.

And then I starting reading the firefly blogs. I enjoyed hearing about other families like mine, and soon understood that everyone has something to say, and everyone has something that can move somebody else.

I was touched by the other families’ journeys so I was sure I could touch others too.

I wanted to bring honesty, and yet positivity.

I wanted to show Zachariah in his true light, and show the world that he may have an underdeveloped brain but he has a joyful life!

And I wanted to prove that in every struggle, each bad day and dark cloud there is a blessing to be thankful for.

Once it was all approved, I started writing! From the very start I felt this huge sigh of relief, I felt barriers knocking down and had a huge peace about it all. I was now an open book and people were about to jump on the ride and follow my journey as Zachariah’s Mummy.

Blogging has changed my life for a number of reasons.

The first being that it has given me such pleasure to hear that I have helped someone because of what I have written.

I have had messages to thank me for being honest and open as they really needed to hear what I had said. Being honest about the way I’m feeling and hearing that someone else has had similar feelings makes you feel less alien and less lonely.

I have had people contact me for a further discussions on particular topics, and let's not forget the fact that I have made some new friends along the way! This alone is just marvellous!

I have had the pleasure of meeting a mummy and her son which has been such a blessing. Introducing our sons was beautiful as they both connected so quickly and us Mummies found such warmth from our new found friendship.

Secondly it has been therapeutic.

Seeing my feelings and thoughts on the laptop screen have helped in the process of understanding myself, and helping me through hard times along the way.

It’s given me perspective and time to focus on what is important in life.

Lastly, blogging has helped me show my son to the world and led us into a new world full of amazing families just like us! I thank Zachariah for this new adventure!