There is laughter in my house again.

[wheresmyhairytoe]

Sorry, just needed to share.
We've had an awful couple of years with DS's ASD, mental health and school refusal. He's wanted to die and every day was full of violent meltdowns and us walking on egg shells trying not to set him off, DD has suffered greatly witnessing it all.
After a long battle with the LA he finally got a place at a SEMH school in September. 5 weeks in and we've got a different child. He's keen to go to school every morning, talks about his day positively and this last week our home has been filled with laughter again.
We were all in such a dark place I honestly thought we'd never hear laughter again.

So if anyone reading this is going through similar, keep going, keep fighting for what your child needs, it can get better.

I could have written your OP. My eldest has just started at a SEMH school and it's like a light has come on. Came home yesterday having made sausage rolls and tarts and was just bursting with pride. It's the best I've seen her in years.

So happy for you and your son. We are currently in the middle of the suicidal meltdowns and frankly I can't see any light at the end of the tunnel

Aww thank you all.

There were days I just sat and cried as we were failed time and time again but I knew I had to pick myself up as no one else would fight for him. I remember one day after yet another broken promise DD telling a TA at school "mummy cried all night but today she's going to kick some butt!"
I'd honestly forgotten how lovely DS can be, we've been so used to him at rock bottom, so to see him start to come back has been magical. And yes it shows how the right environment can make all the difference.

This is wonderful OP.

You've fought hard for your DS, your family, and for that laughter. I hope you're enjoying every second.

Imperfect big hugs to you all. It really is the most horrendous thing to see your child so broken and you have to have lived it to understand.
Keep going, one foot in front of the other, one day at a time. You can do it, it will get better.

Aww this is lovely to hear OP ❤

Currently fighting for an assessment for my daughter so this is what I needed to hear. Her new paeds thinks she can't have ASD because she makes good eye contact

that's wonderful

That’s wonderful Op, so pleased for you. x

So nice to see a positive post, especially on a grey Wednesday morning, I'm pleased for you & your family

How wonderful for all of you .

My DD has the suicidal meltdowns as well. It's a constant battle.

I'm so happy for you all. Wonderful news

That's uplifting news. Congratulations. What is an SEMH school, if you don't mind me asking (I can't figure out what the initials stand for)?

From another whos in the thick of it again!!

Im so pleased for you all xxx may long it continue

So lovely to read. AS already mentioned it goes to show the difference the right support can make.
Wish you continuing happiness.

What a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing and may the laughing last a lifetime.

That's wonderful for both you and your child 💐

So pleased for you toe , that must have been an exhausting journey for you both

sciences SEMH is social, emotional and mental health.
As the Senco said when we looked round "we pick up the pieces of the children the system has broken and put them back together again".

What a wonderful post. It's made me go all gooey inside! You sound like a wonderful parent and I hope the laughter continues in the house, your DD included! Enjoy every second of it ❤️

for your DD. Siblings often bear a significant element of stress. Take care of her. She may need time to recover.

I'm having a little cry☺️. I'm so pleased for you all.

Thanks for the explanation, wheresmyhairytoe. I wish you many more years of happiness & laughter with your DS & family

Whereismyhairytoe this is a lovely post. We're in a similar situation of rock bottomness. How does your SEMH school sit with the ASD side? It's an option for us but I'm worried they won't get that the anxiety aspect of ds isn't from life events or trauma or attachment issues but part of how his brain is wired and that more standard behaviour strategies just won't work for someone with ASD. There are no ASD schools really either so our options are limited!

This is lovely, I wish it was available to all families.

Maybe write yourself a diary letter and keep it so when things get difficult again (as they do from time to time), you can read it and remind yourself how things can and should be with the right support.

autumnis he seems to be coping OK with it all. He's very much ruled by rules so he has less anxiety knowing exactly what's expected of him. Also his class only has 3 in it and 2 staff and they are brilliant at reading when the children are struggling so can step in before it triggers something bigger.
This was our only option too, there's a disgraceful lack of provision for academically able children with ASD.