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Original poster

Good News

168 replies

Ted27 · 07/09/2021 16:58

Its often said that adopters rarely post about good news. So I thought I would start a good news thread and ask MN to pin it to the top.

I'll start

My son is 17 and going into his second year at college studying engineering. He passed year 1 with Merit. A fantastic journey from special school into mainstream education. He has a Saturday job in a grocers. He is good fun to be around and he has lots of friends. We have had our tough times but the future looks bright. He is a fantastic young man and I'm very proud and privileged to be his mum.

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121Sarah121 · 19/09/2021 19:19

@Jellycatspyjamas that means a lot.

Jacketpandbeans · 01/10/2021 06:57

After a few weeks of needing lots of help to settle at bedtime followed by multiple wake ups in the night, my little boy fell asleep by 7:30 and slept through until ten to six this morning! Gave me some much needed respite and cuddles this morning felt even more cuddly!!

Simonjt · 02/10/2021 12:25

My son had his primary RAD exam just over two weeks ago and yesterday we found out that he was awarded a distinction ☺️

He has his first proper friend now as well, I very much cramp his style on playdates, its nice to see him with a friend as he has really really struggled to make them, so hopefully this will build his confidence

Original poster
Ted27 · 02/10/2021 13:26

Such lovely stories everyone, let's keep it going
Today we are the awards ceremony for the National Citizens Service project he did this summer.

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MummyJ12 · 02/10/2021 16:43

This is a lovely thread and it’s great to read so much good news! Well done to everyone 💗 I hope you enjoy the ceremony @Ted27
@Simonjt I’m so happy to read your post. That’s fantastic, really well done to your son. Smile
My little lady is finally starting to trust other grown ups, we have fought hard to get her to benefit from the pupil premium which has been tough. Then a new headteacher started and he’s amazing, totally gets it, he arranged some ELSA one to one time every week and it’s been a game changer. She told her key worker that she wasn’t ok this week and needed help, without the need for her bunny (a transitional object from home) it’s a real breakthrough. Tiny to most but huge for us! She’s finally learning to trust people other than her parents and grandparents after struggling with attachment disorder for 7 years. I’m super proud of her!

121Sarah121 · 03/10/2021 08:24

What amazing kids and parents. So many achievements and all recognised by supper proud parents.

My son went to a birthday party without me yesterday. A few months ago, I never thought we would be there but he was just like the other kids (the last time I was at a party with him in the summer, another parent commented how he behaved just like a 1 yr old and how the gap in his development is showing. Not anymore!! He was just one of the boys).

PoppityPop · 03/10/2021 13:06

@121Sarah121
I hope you told that parent to piss off!

Lovely news about your son Smile

121Sarah121 · 05/10/2021 18:09

@PoppityPop

No I didn’t tell the parent to piss off. I just about hugged her because for too long, too many people have but too high expectations on my son and if he is behaving like a 1 yr old, that’s fine by me. His experiences at 1 yr old weren’t happy and if he feels safe enough around other people to relax and be himself and enjoy little snippets of what life could have been when he was 1 then I’m happy. He has come so far in the past few months and I think by allowing him to have these moments and by others meeting him where he is and by him feeling able to show these parts of himself, that’s where the progress has come from. And it makes me so proud of him.

UnderTheNameOfSanders · 09/10/2021 14:33

Continued good news.

DD has continued to make it into college. It hasn't been smooth; after the first week we dropped her down a level, and at times she has got very stressed (especially wrt maths & English), but she's still there. Smile

Jellycatspyjamas · 10/10/2021 17:30

Fabulous news all round here.

My DS has been voted into one of the student committees at school - he wrote his own presentation, spoke at the whole school assembly and enough people voted for him. It’s been a massive confidence boost, especially when he’s heard a number of the school staff telling me his presentation was excellent. He’s struggled with literacy so to see him gain confidence is just brilliant.

ModelCitizen · 15/10/2021 00:33

My DS has been with us for over 2 years now and he has gone from strength to strength. The school loves him and he loves the school! He has sleep overs with his FCs, has lots of friends and finds joy in life. The love you give him he gives back tenfold. His older brother who struggled at the start with DS's arrival now says he could not imagine life without him. He is a force of nature and so parenting him consistently can be challenging as boundaries and No are just points of negotiation in his world but it is a pleasure watching him grow, sound out his words, do his sums and become immersed in his life.

Eyesofdisarray · 15/10/2021 16:53

Similar here @UnderTheNameOfSanders
DD missed most of her last years at secondary school due to many issues including MH. She is settled at college and her self esteem has improved so much. We still get the occasional outburst but much better than the bad old schooldays

Eyesofdisarray · 15/10/2021 16:55

So good to read these posts 😊
Well done all

Chocapple · 18/10/2021 19:45

I have some more news to share Smile

My AS (now 6) has now really started to feel safe enough to self implement strategies more and more to help re-regulate himself when he gets overwhelmed and/or aggressive.

He will walk away and do deep breaths, count to 100, get a lolly/ice pole or crunchy food, do star jumps etc. And then come back and talk about his emotion and the reason for feeling wobbly. He's doing these things more and more himself without prompts from me.

It has been such a journey this last year or so since Placement with significant child to parent violence and Sensory issues.

I am so proud of these tiny but yet huge steps and what we are achieving as a Team of Two.

Let's keep these Good News stories coming in.

ModelCitizen · 18/10/2021 20:29

@Chocapple That is a lovely post. Truly that work with your child will have life long repercussions for him and help him go down a very different path. You should be so proud of yourself because what you have dealt with is hard and requires such a loving and thoughtful response.

Chocapple · 18/10/2021 22:11

Thank you for your lovely post @ModelCitizen Smile

He really has made so many little steps of progress in what is really such a short space of time- about a year.

He's never had a safe, loving and quiet home where emotions, feelings, love and TRUST are in existence. He was in constant Survival Mode in birth family and more than one FC home - all his previous homes were incredibly traumatic. Sadly some FC's are far from nice homes...

He's gone from a face full of emptiness to a one full of laughter and shining eyes.

hiptobeasquare · 30/10/2021 16:59

Just a bit of good news to share. My five year old has asked for (and eaten) chicken breast in gravy with rice. This is such a massive achievement as he has been so resistant to anything but frozen food. I still haven’t managed to get any veg in, but I am taking this as a win!

Original poster
Ted27 · 31/10/2021 12:54

@Chocapple

‘he’s gone from a face full of emptiness to one full of laughter and shining eyes’

just wow, how amazing is that ! You are going to have such a fabulous Christmas

@hiptobeasquare - definite win

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121Sarah121 · 31/10/2021 15:17

@hiptobeasquare that’s amazing. That sounds like a little boy who trusts his parents to meet his needs and keep him healthy. Such a huge win.

My son had (can I use past tense?!) huge food anxiety to the point I couldn’t even cook in the house (smell of food was dysregulation in case he didn’t get any). The other week my son said, I’m hungry but it’s ok mummy. I’m not scared anymore.

Patchyman1 · 31/10/2021 16:03

Great news on here

Our youngest is starting at his SEMH specialist school tomorrow and he is EXCITED! He hated his mainstream and didn't cope and has been out of school for many months so this is huge! It's a very small school and seems perfect for him, they even have a school dog!

hiptobeasquare · 31/10/2021 19:09

@Patchyman1 that sounds great! School has such a huge impact.
My sons primary has two therapy dogs and he responds really well to sessions with them.

Whatthechicken · 19/11/2021 16:33

I’ve come to post again because we’ve just had lovely reports from teachers for both mine. The 6 year old is flying with his reading and good at maths (he very much likes facts), doesn’t like writing much, but he is good at grammar and his writing flows. The 5 year old is just a tiny bit behind with reading and writing, but is so creative, funny, ‘a real sweetheart’, and she has loads of friends (everyone is just so taken with her). We have a few things emerging at home such as sabotage of nice events with the eldest, so it’s just lovely that they are attending school, enjoying it and doing well. I’m so bloody proud of them (although I can’t overdo the ‘proud’ bit with the eldest because he doesn’t believe me).

I am so glad I chose the school I did though, it makes such a difference, they noticed a slight change in behaviour from my youngest recently, figured out what it could be and devised some strategies…so reassuring knowing some other adults (who are aware and knowledgeable about the kid’s situations) are looking out for them.

Original poster
Ted27 · 25/12/2021 13:50

My boy never ceases to amaze me.

For Christmas he has given me a silver necklace with two engraved heart charms, one says Mum, the other has his name

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Wormsarecool · 25/12/2021 13:57

That is beautiful Ted.

I also just wanted to thank you for your generosity with your time and wisdom on here. I don’t post much but read most of the threads on the adoption board and I’ve noticed your generosity time and time again. For relative newbies like me, your insights have been invaluable with my little one. So thank you again and happy Christmas to you and your lovely boy x

Chocapple · 25/12/2021 14:08

@Ted27 that is such a lovely present from Simba Smile