A couple of weeks ago, I ran my first online session for parents of children with Cerebral Palsy.

I’d been thinking about it for a while – I wanted to create a space where parents could hear from an adult who has lived with CP and who has insights to share. Many parents just experience the clinical perspectives or the educational view – they don’t get to hear the long-view. What it’s really like to live with Cerebral Palsy.

I’ll be really honest – I was very nervous. Despite practicing the session several times, the nerves just wouldn’t settle. It wasn’t the usual presentation nerves but something a little more because this felt more personal. I wasn’t talking to professionals or delivering a school assembly. I was speaking directly to parents who were most likely feeling anxious, overwhelmed and very unsure about what their child’s future might look like. I really wanted to get it right – to offer support and reassurance that might help lighten that load, if only a little.

The Reality of the Session

Sixteen booked a place. Nine attended.

A few years ago, I might have focused on the seven who didn’t show up. But the truth is, nine parents choosing to spend their evening listening, reflecting and engaging in that conversation is something I don’t take lightly. And something else stood out – everyone stayed until the end.

What Surprised Me

What struck me most was how quiet the space was at times. People just listened. Reacted at times. There were a couple of questions but not a flood of them. At first I was worried – maybe people had struggled to understand me or maybe the session just hadn’t landed. But after reflecting on the session and the feedback I received afterwards, I don’t think that was the case.

The topics we were talking about – diagnosis, uncertainty, the future – are deeply personal. I understand people don’t always have questions straight away because they’re still taking it in.

One parent thanked me for being so honest and said the session was “refreshing”.

The Importance of Honesty

Parents of children with CP often hear one of two things:

• clinical information focused on needs and limitations
• or overly positive narratives that don’t always reflect reality

I wanted to offer something different – a real perspective. It was important to me that I acknowledged the challenges – life with Cerebral Palsy isn’t always easy. But I also wanted to widen the picture of what life can look like over time.

Not a blueprint. No predictions. Just perspective.

What I’ve Learnt

A few things became clear to me during and after the session:

• Parents don’t necessarily need more information – just space to process
• Silence doesn’t mean disengagement
• Lived experience adds something that can’t be replicated by theory alone.

And maybe most importantly – you don’t have to be a perfect speaker to create something meaningful..

Would I Run It Again?

Yes. Absolutely. Even with the unrelenting nerves!

Because what matters isn’t how polished it felt from my side but whether it actually helped the parents in the room – and I believe it did.

I’m planning on running more sessions over the coming months so if you missed this, keep an eye on my website for future sessions.

A Final Thought

One of the messages I shared during the session – and one I’ll keep coming back to – is this:

The early story isn’t always the final story.