Wendy McCallum The Anti-stress Angel

Wendy McCallum The Anti-stress Angel I mentor Mums of autistic kids so they and their families thrive not just survive. If you would like to know more, please get in touch.

I support Adults of Neurodivergent (ND) Children to prioritise their self-care so that they can give support from a plentiful, not resentful place, advocate for their children to get the support they need, want and deserve from educational/leisure settings and to have more harmonious relationships with family, friends, supporters and providers. As a solo parent of two growing boys, who are Neurodi

vergent (ND), this is my life’s work. I know how lonely and hard it can be navigating diagnosis and support for our ND children I know how easy it is to put our children’s needs first leading to us feeling worn out and resentful. I know how tricky it can be to manage relationships with family, friends and professionals who just don’t get it. I know the importance of putting in place all the elements that help me to flourish and I love supporting others to feel the same.

This helianthus was planted in my garden during the first lockdown in 2020. It was about a foot/30 cm tall and was expec...
05/08/2025

This helianthus was planted in my garden during the first lockdown in 2020. It was about a foot/30 cm tall and was expected to flower for one year, two years if I were lucky. Well, here we are in 2025 and it's flowering for the 6th consecutive year!

I am not a gardener, so this hasn't happened due to any TLC on my part! It's just that the plant is in the right place for it, and it is showing resilience and is thriving.

A good metaphor for life, I think. If we and our children are "planted" in the right place, we can be resilient and thrive without it taking a lot of effort. Where feels like a good place for you to be "planted"? For me, it's close to family and friends, with a great balance of quiet times and socialising.

The holidays can be challenging for those of us who have neurodivergent children, and our needs can get lost in the "noi...
04/08/2025

The holidays can be challenging for those of us who have neurodivergent children, and our needs can get lost in the "noise" of making sure that our kids are ok. Looking after ourselves doesn't need to be time-consuming, we just need to find things that fit in with our days that help. Maybe it's saying no to an invitation that will be too much for you and/or your child, treating yourself to a coffee from your favourite cafe, watching an episode of your favourite TV programme, or admiring the flowers on your walk to the park.

What are you going to do for yourself today?

Is your child stubborn or has some other "less desirable" behaviour trait? I know how challenging that can be, but pleas...
24/07/2025

Is your child stubborn or has some other "less desirable" behaviour trait? I know how challenging that can be, but please bear in mind that it probably means that they won't be easily led when they're older, which could keep them out of a heap of trouble!

When I was younger, I was told I was bossy. I am, and I fully own that now and see it as a positive. I'm comfortable being a leader, giving instructions and directions, and I'm organised (most of the time!).

What personality trait was seen as a "problem" when you were younger, but has been useful to you in adulthood? Please share your story, it would be great to hear.

I'm still working this week, but I took time out this afternoon to see Dianne & Vito Red Hot and Ready, and it was fab-u...
23/07/2025

I'm still working this week, but I took time out this afternoon to see Dianne & Vito Red Hot and Ready, and it was fab-u-lous! I love dancing (I was a dancing teacher in my younger days), go to salsa classes and love, love, love Strictly, so it was a perfect afternoon spent with lovely friends. I think my favourite dance to watch is the Argentine Tango 💃🕺 What about you?

I love the freedom from the clock that the school holidays provides (I'm still working this week but at more civilised t...
21/07/2025

I love the freedom from the clock that the school holidays provides (I'm still working this week but at more civilised times😉).

This morning was ideal. I woke at my "usual" time of 6.15, realised that I didn't need to be awake and went back to sleep until 8.30 - I was very tired! This was followed by a cup of green tea, reading my friend and colleague Anne-Louise Harbutt's new book Insights from the Soul (it's wonderful and can be found on Amazon) and then journaling with my chosen crystals.

How did you start your day?

I haven't been posting much recently (did you notice?). It's been a busy time with birthdays (mine last week and Mitch's...
18/07/2025

I haven't been posting much recently (did you notice?). It's been a busy time with birthdays (mine last week and Mitch's this week) and Mitch had a taster day at a sixth form college that he's interested in, all that combined with the warm weather has meant my "productivity" has been less than usual.

I chose to prioritise this week, and looked at what really needed to be done. Mitch's den was a mess and in danger of becoming a health hazard, so I chose to clean and tidy it for him. It was really hard work but the result was worth it, and he said it was his best birthday present! (He gets overwhelmed when the den is in chaos, he's not being lazy).

So that I could achieve that clean I gave myself permission not to worry about posting every day, so that I didn't have that nagging in the back of my mind.

What are you going to prioritise and give yourself permission for today?

15/07/2025

I vary the Zumba/Dancefit routines that I follow to keep me interested. My favourites are those by my lovely friend Saskia, but when I want a shorter session, I choose one from YouTube.

This morning, the lady leading the class was dancing out of time to the music. I used to be a dancing teacher and I'm a deputy choir leader, so my brain and my body resist me going out of time 😂 even though it's perfectly acceptable to do it if it means that the exercise is completed properly!

What "can't you do, even though it's perfectly acceptable to do it? I'd love to know what comes up!

I love working with Mums of Autistic kids (diagnosed or not), holding their hand whilst we reflect on what’s going well ...
10/07/2025

I love working with Mums of Autistic kids (diagnosed or not), holding their hand whilst we reflect on what’s going well and what’s not going well and come up with a plan so that family life starts to feel more balanced and less challenging. I've been there, seen it, done it and worn the t-shirt in my personal life, and continue to learn, which means I can share the shortcuts with you!

If you've been thinking about working with me, now is the perfect time to book a *FREE* 30-minute discovery call to see if we'd like to work together. I'll be working face-to-face and on Zoom for the next two weeks, then I'll be taking a break. However, if you become one of my one-to-one coaching and mentoring clients (I've paused group work for the summer), you'll have access to me via WhatsApp /Email over the summer break at no extra cost to you!

Sound interesting? Book a Discovery Call using the link in the comments and let's work on making life easier for you and your family.

This time of year can be overwhelming for our autistic/ND kids, and for us too! If they are still in nursery/school/coll...
09/07/2025

This time of year can be overwhelming for our autistic/ND kids, and for us too! If they are still in nursery/school/college (I appreciate my Scottish friends and family have already finished the academic year), the last couple of weeks of term can involve the potential chaos of no real timetable, sports days, school plays, leavers' ceremonies and more. I remember having to write down everything that the boys needed every day when they were at primary, because it was so difficult to keep track of everything. (The fact I was Chair of the PTA probably didn't help either 🤪). If they've already finished the academic year, then not having a structured day may be proving overwhelming.

Here are some suggestions that may help you, and Elm Bach Flower Essence can be used by your child as well and may well help them cope better with the chaos. Good luck!

Juggling all the different demands in your life can be tough. Be it children, SEN children, partners, your job/business,...
08/07/2025

Juggling all the different demands in your life can be tough. Be it children, SEN children, partners, your job/business, parents, friends, the list goes on. I see you, I am you.

I've made no secret of the fact that the last few weeks have brought lots of joy (the boys both had success on their work experience, Connor turned 18), but challenges too. Supporting the boys, supporting my parents, being there for my clients and friends, it's been full on. I suddenly realised that I had been metaphorically holding my breath, and now that the "crises" are past, I can breathe again.

So, if you're waiting to exhale, please take the time for a few deep breaths. If you'd like me to hold your hand navigating life with an autistic child so that you can thrive, not just survive, I'm booking discovery calls for the next couple of weeks. The link is in the comments.

For those of us with SEN kids, there's a lot going on in the news at the moment that may affect us and our young people....
07/07/2025

For those of us with SEN kids, there's a lot going on in the news at the moment that may affect us and our young people. The potential changes/removal of EHCPs and the potential changes to DLA/PIP. If you're anxious, you're not alone.

At times like this, I often look back at the Serenity Prayer. In summary, give me the serenity to accept the things I can't change, the courage to change those I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

So if there's something we can change, then let's do that. If we need to calm ourselves, then we can use square breathing (breathe in for a count of 4, hold for a count of 4, breathe out for a count of 4 and hold for a count of 4, and repeat a few times) and perhaps some flower essences for support.

Address

Street Lane
Ardingly
RH176UB

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Wendy McCallum The Anti-stress Angel posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Wendy McCallum The Anti-stress Angel:

Shortcuts

Share

Category