Why Bladders, Bowels & Bathrooms?!
Over the course of one summer, I turned from Co-Headteacher of a primary school in Devon to trainer, consultant and advocate for children’s bladder and bowel health!
Leaving education and starting a new career is never an easy decision. I knew that I didn’t want to waste everything I’d learned over the last 25 years (quarter of a century!) so I tentatively explored a range of career options…maybe I could provide leadership coaching, SENDCo supervision, staff training or possibly retrain as a counsellor or child psychologist?!
Meanwhile, my youngest daughter suddenly started having toileting issues at 7 years old. This was truly a heart-wrench . My eldest daughter had already been battling continence issues for 8 years and the thought of my youngest suffering too was heart-breaking. The only consolation was that…this time…I knew what we were dealing with.
I was able to spot the signs early, increase her drinking, reach out to the GP, start a dysimpaction, discuss her needs with her teacher and (on the whole) deal with the situation a bit calmer.
Knowledge was definitely the key
Unfortunately, we only really learn how our bladders and bowels work when things go wrong and yet, the earlier we act, the easier it is for all involved. What if we knew the basics upfront, just in case? Even better, what if we all just knew how to look after our bladders and bowels properly and avoid the issues altogether?!
And so…this was the seed that led to the creation of 'Healthy Bs' - Bladders, Bowels & Bathrooms!’
I would use my SENDCo knowledge and training skills to raise awareness in schools about children’s bladder and bowel health. I would work with SENDCos, teaching and support staff to ensure that they understood how to proactively look after little bladders and bowels whilst also giving them the tools and resources they needed to be able to pass the information onto both the children and the parent community.
By “Championing Bladder & Bowel Health in schools”, I want to ensure that other families have the knowledge upfront to deal with any continence issues if they arise, hopefully avoiding the suffering that comes with dealing with it alone.
If you are interested in the work we are doing or have a story to share, please do reach out via our ‘Contact Page’