What’s Inside "Don’t Just Survive: Thrive" - and Why It’s So Much More Than a Planner

When I first set out to create Don’t Just Survive: Thrive, I wasn’t thinking about planners or productivity tools - I was thinking about survival.

 

At that time, I was in the thick of it with Devan. His meltdowns were overwhelming, our routines were chaotic, and I felt like I was constantly on the back foot - trying to figure out how to manage him at home, looking for patterns in his behaviour that I just couldn't see, not knowing what to say in meetings with his teachers when the topic came up. My notebooks were a mess of scribbles. My mind was even messier.

 

What I needed didn’t exist. So I created it.

 

This journal isn’t about being perfectly organised — it’s about feeling supported in the everyday chaos of SEN parenting. Here’s a look inside Don’t Just Survive: Thrive - and why each part is designed to meet you exactly where you are.

 

🌷 Monthly & Weekly Organisation

📅 Monthly Calendar and Weekly Planner

These sections help you get a bird’s-eye view of the month ahead, while also breaking down your weeks into manageable chunks. From school events to therapy sessions, from dentist appointments to playdates - everything has a place.

💜 Why it matters: Seeing your plan on paper clears the mental clutter and brings calm to the chaos - helping you breathe a little easier as you face the days ahead.

 

📚 Communication & Appointments

📝 School Communication & Meeting Notes

Whether it’s an EHCP review, a call from the SENCO, or an impromptu chat with the teacher - these pages give you a central place to track it all. Who said what, what was agreed, and what still needs following up.

💜 Why it matters: SEN parenting means being an advocate. These pages help you stay prepared and empowered.

 

🧠 Understanding Behaviour

🔥 Meltdown Tracker, Mood Tracker, Sleep Log & Dietary Changes Log

This is the heart of the journal. By tracking meltdowns, moods, sleep patterns, and food changes, you start to uncover patterns and gain real insight into your child’s world. These aren’t just logs — they’re tools to help you respond instead of react.

💜 Why it matters: Understanding your child’s triggers is the first step toward supporting their ability to self-regulate - and allows you a sense of confidence and calm in tough moments.

 

🏥 Health & Interventions

💊 Medication/Supplement Tracker & Trialling New Meds

Managing medication changes, dosage timings, and side effects can feel like a full-time job. This section helps you keep everything in one place - especially important during those tricky “let’s try something new” phases.

💜 Why it matters: You shouldn’t have to rely on memory alone when it comes to your child’s health.

🎯 Motivation & Milestones

🌟 Goal Cards & Celebration Space

Whether the goal is brushing teeth independently, trying a new food, or staying calm during a playdate - these pages help you break big wins into small steps, and celebrate every single one.

💜 Why it matters: Our kids are constantly working hard - and so are we. It’s time we acknowledged that, and shift the focus from challenges and difficulties to triumphs and achievements.

🍃 Support for You

💚 Save Me Strategies, Mum/Parent Self-Care, & Resources

Because yes — you matter too. This journal includes space just for you: to write, reflect, download your thoughts, and keep your go-to support tools within reach.

💜 Why it matters: The more supported you feel, the more support you can offer. Your wellbeing isn’t a luxury - it’s a necessity.

More Than a Journal - A Companion

When I first dreamed up Don’t Just Survive: Thrive, I hoped it could help me cope. What I didn’t expect was how much it would connect me with other parents who felt the same - overwhelmed, unsure, but full of love and trying their best.

This journal is for us. For the SEN mums and dads holding it together with sticky notes, WhatsApp chats, and coffee-fueled strength. For the families finding their way, one day at a time.

If you’re ready for a tool that understands the full picture of SEN parenting, Don’t Just Survive: Thrive was made for you.

 

💕 Every page in this journal was created with purpose – to offer support, clarity, and calm for parents navigating the ups and downs of life with a child who is neurodivergent, including - but not limited to - those with ADHD, autism, or sensory processing differences.

 

All my love,
Sharona