Mum runs half marathon for Spurgeons

Receiving support from Spurgeons inspired mum Michelle to run a half marathon to raise money.

Parenting difficulties

Michelle has two strong-willed daughters and was struggling with parenting them. The school suggested she contact Spurgeons. 'It was so easy to access the support from the get-go,' she says. 'It's an ongoing process- I know we could still ask for help and be welcomed back by Spurgeons and they'd be there for us whenever we needed support.' 

Michelle attended sessions with our parent support worker Clare Craggs, who gave her the parenting tools she needed to break the cycle of parenting habits she’d learnt from her childhood- tools she is now practicing with her family to try and be her best as a mum. Michelle learnt to stay calm and that how she reacts impacts her girls. Now, when parenting is tricky, she tries to ‘always takes a breath and think before we react.'

'We're still learning, and it's hard,' she says. 'However when we put the work in I have to say the peace, understanding and love that comes from our eldest once we were re-educated back to how we should be supporting her, spoke far more loudly than any disputes and frustration's we ever had.'

Valuable parenting support

Michelle has high praise for Spurgeons worker Clare who helped her. 'We are lucky to have met her,' Michelle says. 'She's empathetic, professional, kind, calm and she actually listens to you. She's open and has welcomed us back when we needed to check in with her again. I'll be eternally grateful for her help and the tools she's given us to try and be our best.'

The key learning point for Michelle was to keep calm and empathise with her children, and try to see things from their point of view.

Michelle recommends other parents seek support when things get tough: 'Shunning professional support is self-sabotage in my opinion.' she says. 'Why would you not want to be the best parent you can by taking on any resources you can along the way?'

Raising money for Spurgeons

Michelle is running the Tunbridge Wells half marathon this Sunday to raise valuable funds for Spurgeons that can benefit other parents. She has been training hard, usually around 6am in the dark mornings.

'It's when I'm at my best,' she says. 'I run to clear my head and have a mental break. I can go out and run anything from 3-10 miles depending on the day and time I have spare! Being a mum of two young strong-willed girls is hard and I feel like my old self when I run. I have to put the mum-guilt to the side and go. I know I'll be a nicer person once I've had a run!' 

If you would like to sponsor Michelle, please click here.