SEND the Mums
Season 1
The School Refuser
Who looks after the SEND parent?
Sports Day, Sacraments and SEND
Holidays and Neurodivergent Children
Why Are School Systems So Exhausting?
The Sibling Side of SEND
Masking: The Bit No One Sees
by Kenna Burke
School Refusal and When Every Morning Feels Like a Battle Please note: This episode contains emotional discussions around school refusal, parental burnout and the impact it has on the whole family. Kirsty becomes understandably emotional while sharing her family's experience. This week, Kenna chats to Kirsty about what life has been like with Ed, who struggles to go into school almost every day. Together, we talk about the reality of those mornings, the emotional toll it takes on the whole family, and what it feels like when you're doing everything you can but still don't have the support your child needs. We discuss why transitions can be so difficult for some neurodivergent children, what happens when school struggles to put the right support in place, and the heartbreaking reality of watching your child become increasingly distressed. This is one of our most raw and honest conversations yet. There are tears, frustration and moments that many SEND parents will recognise all too well. If school refusal is something your family is living through, we hope this episode helps you feel seen, understood and a little less alone. 🤍
Who looks after the SEND parent? In this episode, we’re turning the conversation back onto ourselves. After a few really tough weeks, Kirsty and I sat down for a proper catch-up about how we’ve actually been feeling. The end of the school year, endless school requests, emotional exhaustion, and trying to hold everything together while our children need us more than ever. We talk honestly about burnout, guilt, why everything can sometimes feel so relentless, and how easy it is to lose yourself while you’re busy looking after everyone else. We also touch on our own experiences of postnatal depression and the impact it had on us. There’s no advice in this one. Just two mums having a real conversation and reminding each other, and hopefully you, that it’s okay to admit when you’re struggling. Because sometimes the person who needs looking after is the one doing all the looking after. 🤍
Episode 6, we’re chatting about two big milestones that happened recently for our boys: their First Holy Communion and Sports Day. We talk honestly about why both events filled us with so much anxiety, from wondering whether the boys would make it through their First Holy Communion with their PDA and big emotions, to worrying about how we’d be judged if things didn’t quite go to plan. We also talk about Sports Day and why, for so many SEND parents, it can be a bit of a gut punch. Watching your child alongside their peers can bring up all sorts of emotions, and sometimes you’re not just cheering them on, you’re quietly grieving the things that come more easily to other children. It’s a honest conversation about celebrating our children for who they are, while also acknowledging that some milestones look and feel very different in a SEND family. If you’ve ever found yourself worrying more about an event than actually enjoying it, this one’s for you 🤍
New episode 🎙️ And this week we have a new host joining us, the wonderful Leanne 🤍 This time we’re talking about family holidays with neurodivergent children. The packing lists that need their own packing list. The travelling. The safe foods. The disrupted routines. The stares from strangers when things don’t quite go to plan. And whether holidays are actually relaxing when you’re still parenting 24/7, just in a different location. Because the truth is, our holidays often look a little different to most. We talk about the things people don’t always see, and why a successful holiday doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. If you’ve ever packed half your house “just in case”, this one’s for you 🤍
This episode is all about school systems and just how exhausting they can be as a SEND parent. We chat about our own experiences, meetings, emails, trying to be heard, and how different support can look depending on where you live. We also know we’re lucky in some ways because not every family has schools or staff that are supportive, understanding, or willing to work with them, and we really wanted to acknowledge that too. It’s basically just a very honest conversation about how tiring it all is sometimes. Constantly advocating for your child while trying to keep yourself together at the same time 🤍
The siblings of SEND children carry things too. In this episode, we’re talking about the sibling side of SEND. The guilt, the pressure, the protectiveness, the resentment, the maturity beyond their years… and the constant worry about whether we’re getting the balance right. We talk about “glass children”, the siblings who often become the easy ones because they have to be, and how SEND can shape the whole family in ways people don’t always see. This one is honest, emotional, and probably one a lot of parents will relate to. Because sometimes the children saying the least are carrying the most.
In this episode, we’re talking about masking… the bit no one sees until you get home. For some children, school gets the “perfect” version. The one who copes, follows the rules, and holds it all together. But when they walk through the door, everything they’ve been holding in comes out. We’ve seen both sides of this. One child who masks and saves it all for home. And one who can’t mask at all, where everything is visible, all the time. We talk about what that really looks like as parents. Being told “they’re fine here” while you’re dealing with the fallout. Feeling like no one quite believes you. And the emotional toll of holding it together yourself when everything around you feels like it’s unravelling. Because here’s the truth… There isn’t an “easy” version of this. Just different kinds of hard. If you’re navigating masking, meltdowns, school struggles, or just trying to make sense of it all, this episode is for you. You’re not alone in it.
Welcome to SEND the Mums. In our first episode, we’re introducing ourselves, talking about how this podcast came about, and why we felt like we needed a space to speak honestly about life as mums. We talk about parenting, school struggles, advocating for our children, and the constant overthinking that comes with it all. This podcast isn’t polished or perfect. It’s real, honest, and completely us. If you’re winging it too, you’re in the right place.