Introducing the Life Story Hub
My name is Natalie, and I am so pleased to introduce myself and my website.
I work as a practice manager for the adoption support team in Adopt London North and my special interest is life story work. I have created a website that aims to encourage new ways of thinking about our life stories. The website takes inspiration from both my professional and personal life. It may be particularly relevant where there is vulnerability. It is divided into two sections; for parents of children of primary age and ideas for those supporting the elderly with the challenges that aging gives to memory and sense of self. The reasons for any sort of vulnerability are varied and unfortunately are not something we actively chose!
When I was 11 years old my English Teacher gave my class some unusual homework. We were asked to write ‘an autobiography’ [a new word for us] in any way we chose and told that we could put in illustrations, photos and our own chapter headings. The class went at this task with gusto and enthusiasm not normally felt for homework. Perhaps it is the enjoyment and sense of meaning I witnessed and experienced at 11 in doing our autobiographies that began my interest in thinking about life stories.
I believe that when we understand and share our life stories, it can bring clarity and light to parts of our lives that might feel confusing or difficult. The Richard Rose method of life story work is a great example of this. It helps children, parents, and professionals explore the facts, myths, and emotions that shape how we see our past. The website recognises the particularly challenging stories that adopted children come into care with and offers support in approaching these.
It was saddening to watch my own parents struggle with diminishing powers of story telling as dementia took hold, ruthlessly unpeeling the layers and constructs that make up what we understand as personality. Whilst dementia is a disease primarily of old age, I see parallels with the power of trauma to affect the growth of personality and prevent the confidence that allows for a child to blossom.
It is a strange time of life for us when we are needed at the same time by both our children and our parents. Many adopters due to their stage of life will be going through what I went through as a somewhat older mother than the norm. Finding resources to read and reflect upon as well as actively use, when there are these double demands can become another distraction. A google search can only answer questions and feelings that can be verbalised.
Searching online for answers can help, but it’s not always easy to put feelings into words. Sometimes, even the titles of books and seminars can feel discouraging rather than helpful.
That’s why I created my website, to bring together positive, forward-thinking resources in one place. It’s free and easy to access, and it highlights how we can use art, music, and storytelling to connect with our loved ones and face life’s challenges. Whether we’re dealing with past trauma or illness, creative expression can help bring balance and even moments of joy.
This website isn’t meant to be read all at once, just dip in and out as needed.
I recall that the teacher who commissioned the autobiographies for my class got it totally right when she returned the exercise books which were purely devoted to the homework with encouraging comments about the care that had been taken with delivery but gave no grades. Our lives are not to be graded and assessed but to be approached through any creative medium that works towards bringing more understanding and positivity into our lives.
The Life Story Hub can be found here.