CRACKED NAILS & SPLIT ENDS
The blog
Real life. Real challenges. Real stories.
Welcome to my Lifestyle Parenting Blog, where I explore topics related to chronic illnesses such as ME/CFS, chronic pain, and fibromyalgia while embracing a passion for yoga, books, and blogging.
Why Calling ME a Rare Disease Frustrates Me
Reading about Beth Dobbin’s experience with ME left me grateful for the awareness, but frustrated by a headline calling it a rare disease. Living with ME and fibromyalgia myself, I share why those words matter, how my local ME team has supported me, and why taking part in DecodeME made the research feel personal.
12 Things I Wish I'd Known Before Becoming an SGO Kinship Carer
Thirteen years into our Special Guardianship journey, I reflect on twelve things I wish I had known before becoming an SGO kinship carer. From childhood trauma and family breakdowns to navigating social services, birth parents and fighting for support, this is our personal experience of the challenges, sacrifices and love that come with raising a child through kinship care.
10 Autumn Self-Care Tips for Living With ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia
Autumn can be beautiful, but colder weather and darker days can make living with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia more challenging. Here are ten gentle self-care tips for managing your energy, pain and wellbeing as the season changes.
When It Is Too Quiet: Why Some Neurodivergent Children Struggle With Silence
I used to think quiet meant calm. Then I began noticing how quickly my neurodivergent child fills a pause with a word, a noise or a sudden question. Sometimes there seems to be real urgency behind it. In this personal reflection, I explore what silence might feel like for them, alongside the realities of kinship care, Special Guardianship and my own need for a moment to think.
Nearly 11 and Still Causing Mischief – Life With an Older Beagle
Kiwi may be nearly 11, but age certainly hasn’t stopped her Beagle mischief! From breaking into the food recycling bin to helping herself to flour, she’s as stubborn, food-obsessed and mischievous as ever. 🐾 xx
Kinship Care Week: Celebrating the Silent Army Who Step Up for Children
This Kinship Care Week, I’m celebrating the silent army of kinship carers who step up when a child needs them most. Often unprepared and with little support, they open their homes, reshape their lives and navigate challenges they never expected—all to give a child safety, stability and the chance to remain within their family.
A Blue Badge Does Not Mean a Motability Car
A Blue Badge does not mean somebody's car is a Motability car. I see this assumption constantly online, but the Blue Badge scheme and Motability are separate. As someone living with ME CFS and fibromyalgia, I wanted to explain the difference and why making assumptions about disabled people from the car they drive gets it so wrong.
When Did It Become Acceptable to Bash Disabled Women?
When did disability become something to mock, question or call “cool”? As a disabled woman living with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, severe spinal foraminal narrowing, severe TMJ and mechanical back pain, I reflect on a recent Telegraph article, the damaging suspicion surrounding invisible disability, and why online chronic illness communities can be a lifeline for people who simply want to feel heard, believed and less alone.
Being Mum and Dad Under an SGO Was My Child’s Choice
My child chose to call us Mum and Dad, and they continue to choose those names. I reflect on what being their parent means to me, from school meetings and hospital appointments to first crushes and heartbreak, and the security they find in our everyday life together.
Why Am I Using a Wheelchair When I Can Walk?
I can walk, but walking is not always possible, comfortable or sustainable. This is my honest experience of using a wheelchair with ME CFS and fibromyalgia, chronic pain, fatigue and fluctuating mobility.
When Disabled People Attack Other Disabled People
Disability is not a competition. I explore invisible illness, mobility aids and why disabled people deserve compassion, accessibility and solidarity.
Early Signs of PEM: How I Know a Post Exertional Malaise Crash Is Coming
Post exertional malaise is one of the most challenging parts of living with ME/CFS, yet it often begins with subtle warning signs. In this article, I share the early symptoms I have learned to recognise over years of living with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, from worsening brain fog and pain to nausea, sensory overload and the signs that a crash may be approaching.
Managing Post Exertional Malaise After Family Holidays with ME/CFS
Family holidays can create lasting memories, but for those of us living with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia they can also trigger post exertional malaise long after the trip ends. In this personal reflection, I share how I manage PEM after family holidays, pace my recovery, reduce guilt, and protect my health while still making room for meaningful experiences.
Helping Children Feel Safe Enough to Sleep: Neurodivergence, Trauma, and Bedtime Routines
Sleep is often viewed as a simple matter of tiredness, but for many neurodivergent children and those who have experienced trauma, it is far more complex. Sensory needs, feelings of safety, predictable routines, and emotional regulation can all play a significant role in helping a child settle and rest. In this article, I share the bedtime strategies our family has discovered through trial and error, and why creating a calm, secure environment before sleep can make all the difference.
My First Cruise with ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia: What I Expected Versus What Actually Happened
For years, I had been curious about cruises.
The idea always sounded appealing to me. A floating hotel that takes you from place to place without the hassle of constantly packing and unpacking, long travel days, or navigating unfamiliar transport systems. Living with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia means I have to think carefully about how I travel, and a cruise seemed like it might offer a gentler way to see different places while still allowing me plenty of opportunities to rest.
At the same time, I was nervous.
Why Hot Weather Makes My Chronic Illness Symptoms Worse (And What Helps Me Cope)
When the weather forecast predicts sunshine and soaring temperatures, most people seem excited.
My social media feeds quickly fill with pictures of beach trips, family barbecues, picnics in the park and people making the most of the longer days.
A few years ago, I would probably have felt exactly the same.
The Reality of Life After a Special Guardianship Order
When people think about Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs), they often focus on the court process itself.
What many don’t realise is that once the Special Guardianship Order is granted, the support you’ve relied on throughout the assessment process can suddenly disappear.
That was certainly our experience.
How to Help Your Child Revise for GCSEs: What I’d Do Differently Seven Years Later
It hardly seems possible that more than seven years have passed since my older boys sat their GCSEs. At the time, it felt as though our lives revolved around revision timetables, past papers, flashcards and endless cups of tea. Like many parents, I wanted to help, but I also knew there was only so much I could do. Ultimately, the revision had to come from them.
10 Low Energy Hobbies You Can Do Without Leaving Bed When Living With ME/CFS or Fibromyalgia
There are days when even sitting up feels like climbing a mountain.
Before becoming ill, I never imagined that something as simple as getting out of bed could require so much thought and planning. Now, living with ME/CFS and fibromyalgia, I know that some days my body makes the decision for me before I’ve even opened my eyes.
Those are the days when my world becomes much smaller.
Chronic Illness, Body Image and Online Eating Disorder Support That Fits Real Life
Living with chronic illness changes so much more than just your body.
That sounds obvious, I know, but it is something I do not think people fully understand unless they are living it. When your body stops moving the way it used to, when pain becomes part of the background noise of your day, and when medication starts solving one problem while creating another, it can really affect how you feel about yourself.