Nature itself is the best physician
“Nature itself is the best physician” Hippocrates
I have seen the evidence twice this week. Sean took Sam and Caitlyn’s brother Jayde hunting for wild deer on Saturday. Neither Caitlyn or I heard anything from them until well after lunch. Sam and Jayde both pulled off great shots and killed deer so there is venison for the freezer. The joy of the day was evident from the wide smiles on their faces when they arrived home. Sean was proud of them.
Yesterday Rory was looked after by the lovely Jo who has agreed to be his companion one day a month during the weekend so Sean, Colt and I can get out into the wild together. Our first tramp was along the Waitaanga Track to Falls Hut. It was wonderful to be in the vibrant green forest, be accompanied by brave curious Toutouwai (NI robins) and spot the colourful fungi. It also felt good to be physically tired at the end of the day. Days like yesterday are priceless for my mental health. Parenting a child with special needs has been compared to the stress of a combat soldier. Mothers suffer from chronic stress, frequent fatigue and experience increased work interruptions. They spend significantly more time caregiving and have a lot less time for themselves. I needed to do something to create regular ‘wild’ breaks. The days with Jo are a win-win. Rory also had a great time. He made a list of the activities he wanted fill his Sunday so they were kept busy.