Thomas' Way with Nicola Irvine
09/07/22 • 30 min
When your child experiences the world through the altered lens of disability it can be difficult to stay on the same road, let alone understand each other. Social norms and the invisible pressure to fit into our society can cause us to miss the perfection of our children just as they are. It takes awareness and bravery to let go of control and allow them to be who they are and communicate to us in “their way”.
In this loving story from Nicola Irvine, she shares an experience with her adult son, Thomas, who is non-verbal, profoundly deaf and has a brain injury. On one of their drives together he begins to strip off his clothes. Nicola feels she needs to correct this behavior but knows doing so runs the risk of escalating the situation and causing him to become aggressive. Instead she chooses to breathe and finds profound beauty in what otherwise could be a very awkward or even dangerous situation.
Nicola Irvine works professionally with parents who struggle with fear, exhaustion, and feeling like they’re on a hamster wheel, to finally experience calm, clarity and peace so they can have a happy, joyful home life. She is an adventure-loving ex-accountant who enjoys time with family and inspiring parents through writing, coaching and speaking. She’s lived in multiple countries, written 3 books and has recently co-written a song.
When Nicola’s son, Thomas contracted bacterial meningitis leaving him with lifelong challenges, she was initially shattered. She searched the world for solutions to ‘fix’ her son and in the process discovered the perfection in the un-fixed, the beauty in “what is” and the gift within each challenge. She is a proud mother of 4, mentor and international speaker.
Find Nicola’s book here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going
Brave Together Parenting is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here. Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow us on Instagram or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected]
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
When your child experiences the world through the altered lens of disability it can be difficult to stay on the same road, let alone understand each other. Social norms and the invisible pressure to fit into our society can cause us to miss the perfection of our children just as they are. It takes awareness and bravery to let go of control and allow them to be who they are and communicate to us in “their way”.
In this loving story from Nicola Irvine, she shares an experience with her adult son, Thomas, who is non-verbal, profoundly deaf and has a brain injury. On one of their drives together he begins to strip off his clothes. Nicola feels she needs to correct this behavior but knows doing so runs the risk of escalating the situation and causing him to become aggressive. Instead she chooses to breathe and finds profound beauty in what otherwise could be a very awkward or even dangerous situation.
Nicola Irvine works professionally with parents who struggle with fear, exhaustion, and feeling like they’re on a hamster wheel, to finally experience calm, clarity and peace so they can have a happy, joyful home life. She is an adventure-loving ex-accountant who enjoys time with family and inspiring parents through writing, coaching and speaking. She’s lived in multiple countries, written 3 books and has recently co-written a song.
When Nicola’s son, Thomas contracted bacterial meningitis leaving him with lifelong challenges, she was initially shattered. She searched the world for solutions to ‘fix’ her son and in the process discovered the perfection in the un-fixed, the beauty in “what is” and the gift within each challenge. She is a proud mother of 4, mentor and international speaker.
Find Nicola’s book here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going
Brave Together Parenting is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here. Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow us on Instagram or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected]
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Previous Episode
Season 4 Trailer
Hi Brave Friends! In this trailer host Jessica Patay, the girlfriend who “gets you” and your beautiful and brutal journey, shares the plan for Season Four. Hint, it includes even more compassionate and educational content created just for you, our amazing caregiving listeners. Through this podcast Jessica strongly desires to create a sense of belonging, connection, and community. Tune in September 7th for the first story episode!
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys. Learn more about our work and JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here.
Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow our Instagram Page @wearebravetogether or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected]
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Brave Together Parenting is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here. Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow us on Instagram or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected]
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
Next Episode
Finding Community When Your Child is an Addict with Heather Ross
It is in Jessica’s heart and vision for this podcast to spend more time shedding light on today’s topic of mental health, addiction and shame. Having a sick kid and having a kid struggling with addiction are both hard on families but one carries a lot of extra societal judgment. Both families need and deserve community, understanding and support though the shame associated with addiction can drive some parents into isolation.
Today Jessica interviews Heather Ross, a mother who was willing to do whatever it took to have a relationship with her daughter who struggled with addiction. Supporting her daughter taught her to focus on their similarities instead of their differences, be present as a mother, and love her daughter unconditionally for the 21 short years she had on this earth. After her daughter lost her life to fentanyl poisoning last year, Heather became even more dedicated to helping families heal. Her clients call her an expert at teaching them how to create peace of mind, space for change, and loving connection in their families. In addition to being a parent support coach Heather has over 20 years of experience in the recovery community, hosts the Living With Addiction Podcast, is a peer parent with the online parent support community Other Parents Like Me, and a CRAFT practitioner.
Other Parents Like Me, LLC (OPLM) is an online membership-based platform for parents and caregivers of teens struggling with substance use and mental health issues. OPLM’s virtual community is designed to create a safe space with the access and support parents need as they move from crisis to healing.
For more information on OPLM visit here.
Contact Heather about coaching here.
Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast go
Brave Together Parenting is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys.
JOIN the international community of We Are Brave Together here.
Donate to our Retreats and Respite Scholarships here.
Donate to keep this podcast going here. Can’t get enough of the Brave Together Podcast?
Follow us on Instagram or on Facebook.
Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: [email protected]
If you have any topic requests or if you would like to share a story, leave us a message here.
Please leave a review and rating today! We thank you in advance!
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