Poem About Raising A Child with Special Needs: My Actual Name Is Scott! by Sandra MacLaren

Recently on Facebook I read a touching poem written by a mom from the UK about raising a child with special needs. Sandra MacLaren’s poem, “My Actual Name Is Scott!” tugged at my heartstrings and I felt so many other parents raising children with challenging needs would be able to relate to Sandra’s poem. I contacted Sandra and we thank her for writing to us about her story, for the photos and for giving us permission to post her poem.

In this mom’s letter, please note the importance of having a “network” of friends to support you in the often difficult journey of raising a child with special needs.

A Letter from  Sandra MacLaren

I am mother to two Special Needs Children.  My daughter is 13 now and attends a Special Needs unit at a local High School.  She loves school and I’m so glad the holidays are coming to an end!  My son is 10 now and I’m currently looking into Residential Care for him due to his behaviour.  All the medicines in the world can’t control boredom, and the holidays are the time I dread.

Both children vomited every feed from birth, and soon lost their suck reflex.  Naso-Gastric tubes were fitted and eventually both got feeding tubes fitted and a fundoplication to stop them vomiting.

It was a heart-breaking time, and having my son come along with the same problems was devastating.  We have no idea why they have this ‘syndrome’ and as such they are still undiagnosed.

I have a great network of ‘mums’ that have all met during pre-school and we now have young adults.  We get together socially every couple of months for a nice dinner and a good chat – which always ends up talking about nappies/medicines/respite/husbands etc!!

I’m glad you took the time to read my poem, I’m very proud of it.  Please share to your blog.

Thanks again,

Sandra MacLaren

My Actual name is Scott!

A Poem About Raising A Child with Special Needs

Mum, why do you insist in calling me names?

Is it because I love to play games?

You leave the room and I’m right behind you

That’s when you call me “Go away, shooo“!

I get into things where I shouldn’t be,

You find me wreaking havoc as quick as 1,2,3,

I’m swiftly uprooted and put into my room,

That’s when you call me “The Demon of Doom”!

The other day, I was enjoying my bath,

But somehow you have to clean up the aftermath,

I get too excited and love to splash with the bubbles,

That’s when you call me “Nothing but Trouble”!

I love to escape from the house,

I do it quietly, just like a mouse,

You’ve no idea where I have gone

That’s when you call me “He’s not my son“!

Everything in the house is out of my reach,

I’m sorry, but I’m hard to teach,

But it’s all your fault if you leave things lying around

That’s when you call me “Get back on the ground!”

I won’t let you do any housework, you see, I’m a mover

I love to chase you around when you hoover,

There’s no point starting the ironing or grabbing a duster

That’s when you call me “Go away Buster”!

I love to annoy my Big Sister, Kayley

She doesn’t like me, she loves me really,

I’ve bitten her in the past and she always pushes me away

That’s when you call me “Not Today”!

You sit down for five minutes as you’ve had a busy day,

Looking after me for very little pay,

Just when I think you’ve had enough rest,

That’s when you call me a “Pest”!

I’m sometimes unwell and need all your attention

In fact, I’ll still need you when you draw your Pension,

Then when I think there’s another trick in me,

That’s when you call me “See you Jimmy”!

Another school day arrives and so does my bus,

To get me in and secured you’d need to be an Octopus,

I’m away for the day and at last you have peace,

That’s when you call me “All’s quiet, until 3 O’clock at least”!

I’ve been working hard at school all day,

You secretly don’t like me being away,

The taxi draws up and I’m full of joy,

That’s when you call me “Hello Big Boy”!

It’s very rare at night I go straight to sleep,

But later when you check on me, do you hear a peep?

I need my bed as I’m getting bigger and older

That’s when you call me “Mummy’s Little Soldier”!

When you’re tending to my every need,

Be it a nappy change or indeed a feed,

I will try my best to nip and bite,

That’s when you call me “A Little………Tyke”!

Mummy, I love you and it’s a tough job for you,

I’m nothing without my family too,

But just for the record, in case you’ve forgot,

My Actual name is SCOTT!!!

by Sandra MacLaren