For kids with CF, we were told it is better to keep them home away from baby groups and such at least until they are 2 years old. Too many germs around and they are vulnerable. This was OK for me, I’m not a huge fan of socialising with other mum’s and children. In all honesty I either take to a child or I don’t, more often it being the latter. I’m not very maternal at all and I hardly ever ask to hold the new baby. I don’t intend to be offensive with this, it’s just me. I’m not rude about it. I just stay away from kids if I can. So I was happy to have an excuse to do just that. It would have been too much anyway with getting my head round everything and then possibly having to listen to other mum’s gush…..erm, no thanks! haha

We had some home visits from a baby massage therapist, and Visual Impairment(V.I.) came out, and serco (brad education in charge of special education etc have a section to deal with young babies and children, I don’t remember what Serco stands for though) sent someone to do portage (kind of home learning for those with special needs-to get things started early), this was far better for me. We had an amazing lady called Jane greenwood, she was from V.I. but did portage as well. She was an older lady, and by the time Lauren was 2 she retired, but she’d been just what we needed, she came and played, and brought new ideas and information and just listened to whatever I needed to chat about.  She was amazing. We miss her. But her replacement was a lady called Joanne Watson. She is also amazing. She was just as full of ideas and information. She carried on a tiny group every other wed afternoon for kids in the area with V.I problems. To be fair, Lauren was the only child to go. But it was at Strong Close Nursery School and Children’s Centre, in Keighley, and I loved the crèche we got play in. So did Lauren! So it was a nice afternoon out. We started this I think just before Lauren was 2 and carried right on till she was 3 & 1/2.

Whilst we were at these little afternoon’s, I became more interested in the actual nursery and started to wonder if I could send Lauren. I’d always said I wouldn’t until she was school age, but it was very apparent she loved the different scene, and people, and so I thought it might help her. So I was brave and applied for an afternoon space for her. It scared the hell out of me. I’d kept her as close and safe as I could humanly possible. It was a big step for me. Big!!

I had a meeting and with the Senco (Special educational Needs Co-ordinator) and asked if I could start her with one afternoon, building up slowly because of how tired she would be, this then affects her reflux, and also for me because I couldn’t and wouldn’t send her for 5 afternoons straight away. It was scary for me, so this was my deal and the only way I would do it. Lucy Fox agreed. And so it began. Lauren LOVED it. She loved going, the children, her one to one. She was in her element. I took a bit longer to adjust and trust. The staff were really good though. I couldn’t fault them.

She built up slowly from just Mondays to Monday and Wednesday afternoons. We then added Tuesdays in, then Thursdays. By the time she finished her time she was up to the 5 afternoons and I’d slowly grown to love them and my space more than I ever expected haha!! She found her little bit of independence and so did I!