my life is pure stress everyday and have been for years
i have 2 home educated children(just 8, nearly 14)that have multiply disabilities each(event though they are not violent they are big boys 5ft and 6 foot)
13 y old has severe aspergers,moderate autism,GDD(global development delay) by 2-3 years, severe dyspraxia, mild physical tourettes,ODD(Oppositional defiant disorder),severe sleeping disorder(as in doesn't sleep)
8 y old is undiagnosed(haven't the mental energy to fight for a diagnosis as i know theres no support out there anyway and as hes home educated i dont see the need) but has adhd,asd(moderate),gdd by 18 months-2 years,pda and spd,cluster speech(that is diagnosed)and separation anxiety(from me)also doesnt sleep
both need 24 hour care so are with me or their dad 24/7
we are official carers to them(ie gets paid carers allowance each)
im still co sleeping with youngest(from birth),dad in same room with oldest
oldest has just come out of a 3 year nervous breakdown and was agoraphobic for 2 years and wouldn't even leave his bedroom for months
we dont get 1 min to our self as we get no professional or family help help at all(in nearly 14 years neither have never been left with a babysitter day or overnight) and with the youngests separation anxiety needs to see me constantly(stands there when i pee or have a bath,its a good thing i dont get monthlys)
as both kids dont sleep(goes 2-3 days straight)so the adult with them at night dont either
both eat constantly(night as well),proper home cooked meals not snacks so one of us is always cooking something
im very very emotionally knackered and have been for years
we do love the home ed life though
but the plus side of this is i get to be with my kids as we chose the home ed life,we have plenty of money because of their disabilities,we have a big 3 bedroom in a nice safe area and we can afford all their food and heat they need(heating on 24 hours as both like to be naked or boxers)
despite not sleeping together since 2003 me and my oh have been together 19 years(been together since we were 17) and never have had a problem as he does just as much as me(hes also our driver)
ive never had a mother in law problem(bug bear of many on here i know)
i know plenty that last winter had to chose between food or heat (temp is always in the minus here in winter and gets dark by 3-4pm)
i live in a very "clean"space as im the valleys of south wales and my village is between 2 mountains, a forest one side and a lovely stream the other and the seas side is a 30 min drive
despite all the stress and daily struggle at the end of it we live a happy life