The fledglings try something new for June

[DarkEvilMoon]

Hello, welcome back and jump on board for June.

As the thread title say we are mixing things up a bit this month, it might work. Then again it might not. It is still a long running thread and newbies will always be welcome. Usual disclaimer still applies "Don’t let it put you off if we appear a bit cliquey, we really aren’t! Some of us have been on here for years – but all lurkers, intermittent returnees, oldies and newcomers very, very welcome"

But here is where this thread is mixing it up. No more daily links. The Big link you will need is the launch pad from here you can get the daily reminders/missions/zones etc...

The first link for the babysteps is the particularly waffly introduction to and first babystep here, through it you can get to all of the other links

Not sure this will work or the lack of daily posts will be a problem. So fingers crossed for a month of nattering and flying success...

I think what has thrown me is that although the diagnosis was expected he is actually doing a lot worse than I thought. Plus it appears to possibly be comorbid with things that had been ruled out as not possible so now have more assessments. Although meetings like that can be utterly exhausting anyway.

I am glad you have managed to get the ed pscy stuff so that if can support the SEN mediation stuff Swan

Toffee how about scripts for minecraft character based stories? perhaps he needs a comfort blanket theme to help stretch him? There are some good ideas and templates lurking on pinterest. If you want I can see what I have pinned for you for a starting point

Hello Shannaratiger I understand the need for space from people to regroup. I hope that you can find some so you can feel better/more able to cope soon.

Evening all,

Sorry, been AWOL, just busy for the last few days. DS was packed off on his Year 6 residential yesterday, so the house is a little quieter than usual. DD is not apparently missing him at all.

DEM - I felt very conflicted for a long time over DS's diagnosis (in 2011, aged 7). I had known deep down about the AS, but I didn't suspect dyspraxia too. I also didn't expect the severe language impairment which only really got uncovered last year during statementing. Also, having thought he was probably borderline for AS/autism, it was a shock to find he was WAY over the threshold. I'd say it took me 6 months to come to terms with it all myself, and another couple of years before I really started to feel I could discuss it openly with other people. Altogether I am very glad we got it, it may not have directly opened as many doors as I had hoped, but it has made me far more confident in my parenting and negotiating the SEN system, so indirectly it has been of huge benefit to him. Also we get a discount at the 10pin bowling alley now .

Talking of all things SEN, big strides forward in our statementing process today, I've just spent yet another tedious hour going through reports with a fine tooth comb, but I think (touch wood) the end might be in sight at last.

Flying-wise, getting back on top of things a bit better now, laundry is all being done on target, downstairs is pretty tidy and I have been doing focussed bits of decluttering here and there.

Sorry, that was a bit all about me. I meant to say DEM, be kind to yourself, it is a big shock, not matter how much you thought you knew beforehand, and as you say, these meetings are exhausting.

DEM - I'm glad you have a diagnosis for DS, even though I know it brings mixed feelings. I realise it's a shock to have it recognised, finally. I'm sorry that your DS is doing worse than you thought. Could it be that he has been able to mask a lot during the primary years, but now that his life is getting more complicated and demanding, his real difficulties are becoming obvious? This often seems to be the case, with so many children falling apart in Year 6 or at the start of secondary (my DS1 included).

The good thing about a diagnosis is that it gives you more ammunition to fight for support at school or a statement. It has been invaluble to us.

Does your DS know his diagnosis? At first, DS1 wouldn't discuss his diagnosis with us and I ended up thinking he'd repressed the memory, but just recently he's started talking about it and even making jokes about it. We can even tease him a bit. When he came out of his first morning at the new school, I asked him about his classmates and he said "They're ok, but one of them is SO autistic!" He caught my eye, looked a bit shamefaced, grinned and said, "Yeah, yeah, I know!"

Thanks for your Minecraft-inspired story idea. That or Dr Who might work and I have been thinking along the same lines. Templates would be useful, thanks. Oh, and I told DS1 about the Japanese method of multiplication and he googled it. He said it was similar, but he didn't think it was exactly the same. I've told him to ask his teacher again.

Swan - I'm only pushing DS2 to practise story writing because I know school is looming, but if it's too much of a battle, I'll stop. I agree with you about not killing the thing he loves. I find it baffling, though, because I always found story writing such fun when I was young and assumed he would too.

Sorry you've had a trying day. Sympathy (and empathy) on your difficult time with your mum. But good news about the ed psych evaluation on Thursday. DS1's ed psych report from CAMHS turned out to be one of the most valuable weapons in our armoury.

Shannara - great news about your DD's happy induction day . I'm sorry you're feeling down, though. Agree with you about the bad effects of not having time to yourself. I went a bit crazy this evening with both boys because I needed time to myself, it was 10.30pm and they wouldn't go to bed. I suddenly snapped and, magically, they disappeared to bed immediately!

Since dispatching the DC, I have been printing out stuff so I can revise for my job interview on Friday. Am feeling very out of touch and had to email a friend to ask her for the current terminology in our business so I don't sound hopelessly outdated!

Ds is relieved. Uncertain about the comorbid issues, but that is to be expected. I gave him his assessment report, he wanted a red pen to correct bad spelling and grammar

minecraft story map
play a game to write a story
more factual questions to write about the world - have to scroll down a bit with this one.
free story starters but you have to subscribe to a news letter
5 prompts one needs tweaking before offering as it was a comp question that is no longer running from what i can see
6 prompts more from the above sight - i particularly like the grandma has never heard of minecraft, write a letter to explain it and why you enjoy it one. Poor grandma

Good morning!

As ever, I doff my hat to those of you negotiating diagnosis, statementing, and SEN issues and all the attendant and stress and bureaucracy that comes with it.

DEM I hope the diagnosis becomes a very useful tool for you with which you can lobby for any support ds needs. Sorry your day was understandably so stressful and exhausting though. at your ds correcting the assessment report

Toffee good luck with prepping for the interview and brilliant that you ds1 overcame his anxiety and got inspired by maths! Well done him! And glad the maths tutor was a success!

Swan Good luck with upcoming SEN mediation and ed psych report tomorrow.

Sorry you are feeling (understandably) down - I have so many friends who are currently trying to help their parents face up to the realities of living in circs no longer suitable for their needs (we've been through it ourselves) - so very difficult when the dynamics of a relationship is turned on its head.

And oh yes to the frustration of someone not listening properly to another. My bil does this when he comes over. He can have a person right in front of him speaking French to him, trying to be helpful, and he will walk away or totally blank them, because it all seems like one big babble to him, no excuses though [grrr, drives me nuts, it's so horribly impolite for one thing and displays such a lack of awareness of 'the other person' grrrrrr!)

And ditto about feeling rueful (especially following a big family event such as the Confirmation) ; dd definitely needs a professional grandparent too , but that's because all of hers are dead (but she has sort of adopted one of her friend's grandparents from down the road, dc being very resourceful about this sort of thing ). But I remember feeling rueful when my parents and those of dh were alive too tbh, because they were so elderly and frail, and couldn't really interact terribly successfully with a toddler/young child as dd was then.

Whoknows yay to the end of the statementing process nearly being in site - I know from your posts that it has been a very long haul for you - again I hope it enables you to access any support your ds might need. And hope he enjoys his residential! Well done on the Flying front too! Can't be easy balancing it with a second job.

Fantastic about your dd's successful induction day Shannara! Hope you get some much deserved time to yourself very soon!

Big wing flaps to everyone else!

Ta da list from yesterday:
Iron my clothes for today blush done
Morning routine inc animals, dw, wm, dining room table hot spots & s&s done
Find four laundry paniers done
Walk dog done
Sort entire teetering ironing pile in to dh, dd, me and household categories done
Sort bed linen to go to be service washed NOPE
Start ironing! done
Menu planning done
Quick supermarket run done
Quick bank run done
Quick chemist run done
Spent a lovely half hour sat on the lawn with dog basking in the sun
On line supermarket order NOPE
More washing Done
Prep healthy supper done
Call bank person again done
More holiday planning Done
Evening routine done

Another early start today: day 2 of exams. DD in good spirits though thankfully! Have to hand it to the school, they seem to have all the dc in just the right place (mentally speaking).

Still trying to battle current laundry crisis but think someone up there is trying to tell me something as I did half a panier of ironing yesterday and the ironing board promptly collapsed on to the floor and then the iron itself blew up

Half day today (no school Wed pm) so am just about to make a pasta sauce for tonight and to do the tasks left off my list yesterday (plus there is still the boudoir ...) . And try and get out of the house this morning with furry one in case dd wants to rest and stay in this afternoon.

Have a good day everybody!

Good morning everyone, I've been lurking rather than posting.

Dogs - Meerkitten is gorgeous!! I hope she is doing okay, and that you are too. I remember the newborn weeks as being so unbelievable disorientating and the biggest shock of my life! Big hugs to you.

DEM - mixed feelings for you with the diagnosis, as someone else said, I expect you will need some time for the dust to settle so to speak

Lots of school news and progress going on with the rest of you - it all sounds good on the whole.

DS and I had a really wonderful day out yesterday, just the two of us, and I feel restored and my faith in myself as a Mum has been boosted. DS has a very strong preference for DH when he is home and it felt like he hated me for a while. DS wouldn't play with me, cuddle me or stop clinging to DH.

DH working away at unpredictable times for days at a time has really thrown DS, they miss each other and the interactions they do have are quite intense. Whereas I just felt like boring old mummy, always there in the background :(

Loads to do today. If I can be bothered!!

Fantastic, DEM! Thank you so much.

Haven't RTT properly yet, but have to get DS1 off to school shortly. BBL.

Have done virtually nothing so far this morning, despite DC have been at school for 1.5-2 hours - had a friend over for coffee at 8 am and then had to do a mercy dash to DD2's school as she'd forgotten the notes for her presentation. On the plus side, downstairs is relatively clean and tidy (DS asked me in astonishment why I was hoovering; I hadn't realised it was such a novelty for the DC to see me with a hoover ) as I wanted to make sure it was presentable for friend's visit - although we ended up sitting in the garden.

DEM I think, no matter how much you realise there's something not right and wish you had some kind of diagnosis, when it does eventually come it can be a huge shock. Hope you're feeling ok - take care of yourself.

WhoKnows at bowling alley discount. DD1 was quite excited to discover she could be eligible for a fast-track pass at Legoland, even though we have no intention of going back there again atm!

SC Hope exams are going well; good to hear that DD is in good spirits, at least. Agree that someone is probably trying to tell you that you're doing too much ironing and you need to take it easy.

swan Sorry to hear about your trying day. I feel quite envious of friends whose parents are very involved in their grandchildren's lives; mine are too far away, and we don't see DH's parents much more often (plus MIL is in very poor health).

Grey It can be very hard when a child seems to be express a preference for one parent - and I think especially difficult when you're the parent left at home and the child is really missing the absent parent - so glad to hear you're feeling much more positive about it all now. And just think how your DS would feel if you weren't always there in the background; I think reassuring or comforting is a much more accurate term than boring.

Toffee So glad to hear your DS1 is enjoying the school work; it sounds like an excellent start. Sorry that your DS2 is feeling less inspired (I sometimes feel like I'm torturing DS by asking him merely to write a few sentences for his homework), but I hope the maths lessons go well - DC can sometimes be much more willing to listen to people outside the family.

Shannara Sorry to hear you're struggling - I also find I really need time to myself to maintain my sanity, although I think that's an introvert thing. Glad your DD enjoyed her induction day.

Time for coffee now. Then I really need to find some momentum, although am still feeling quite inspired to get the house into some kind of order.

Morning...well afternoon really
I'm on nights this week so struggling a bit but - I have got to grips with our bedroom, de cluttered a bit and have two big boxes and a couple of bags for a car boot sale and the DS's rooms are fairly sorted now (just need an IKEA run for a bed for DS2 and some shelves.

Before work tonight I need to tidy the bombsite of a kitchen and Hoover the stairs. I do feel like I'm getting there slowly...have 5 days off after this run of nights so hopefully will make a big difference then!

How long has your DD been diagnosed Linzer? We are nearly 4 years in with DS2 - he is on a pump and doing well generally. Hope you're getting plenty of support and have a good team behind you.

Unfortunately the office handyman has fixed the ironing board and I have been out to buy a new iron ... shame ...!!

DD and I have just been playing badminton on the lawn as a delaying tactic and she beat me! Once again, my "annual" recurring discovery is that er, I am terribly terribly unfit!!

After 40 mins of badminton, ironing almost looks attractive ...

Linzer think you are particularly heroic to have a friend over for coffee at 8am. I am not capable of civilised conversation until 11 am. And house never presentable until then either!! [Arf at hoover novelty!! ]

DD back in good spirits again at lunch time, thanks for asking. She says she has no idea how she has done and the teachers are not allowing them to discuss it between themselves afterwards (which seems very sensible) so didn't glean any clues at pick up. We'll just have to wait and see.

Tomorrow will be the most gruelling day. Off early again to on the train to start written exams which go through until 2pm! Then lunch. Then physical sports (running etc) in the afternoon and it is supposedly going to be quite hot tomorrow. But then that set is over with, and she has Fri Sat Sun to recover until the ones that count start next week four mornings next week.

It's quite a challenge to keep up with her fuel demands. So far today, since 5.30 am, dd has eaten scrambled eggs on toast, a biscuit and juice at 10 am, some smouteballen (Belgian small deep fried doughnuts ) on the way home, a tropical fruit salad immediately upon return and a huge plate of pasta with tomato sauce, garlic and bacon lardons for lunch!! (And she has just asked me to make her a salami and cucumber sandwich for 'tea') And she'll be having home made chicken goujons with carrot and potato mash with green beans tonight for supper... . But if you looked at her, you'd think she'd hadn't eaten for a week ... .

Well done on the decluttering front Maggie! That is a major feat considering you are working shifts. Great that you and Linzer will be
able to swap notes!

Your day out with your ds sounds fabulous Greymalkin; so glad you feel cheerier about things but remember to take the Daddy preference thing with a pinch of salt. We have the same thing here: I am the one who nags about teeth brushing and drinking lots of water and boring things like applying deodorant and hwk and then dh gets to come home and be "fun Daddy". We're on a losing wicket before we start!!

Having said all that, I am beginning to get a bit miffed about the way that the furry one prefers to (literally) dog dh's steps and sit on his lap, when I am the one that picks up his poo, feeds him, and brushes him. Harraumph. Think he is a man's dog and that's that!

Hope you and Meerkitten cocooning nicely Dogsbum and that midwife was able to reassure you about the weight issue

Waves to Toffee and DEM and Whoknows and Swan
Btw was listening to Radio 5 live while getting ready this morning (having got bored of Radio 4) and there was a phone-in about autism and certain on-line games that can be v. therapeutic (Mine Craft being one!). Didn't hear the start, and kept being interrupted, so didn't hear whole prog but might we worth catching up with on Iplayer (or it could be very obvious stuff that you know already!) Just thought worth a mention.

Had better get back to the teetering laundry pile ... groan ...

oh dear, sorry, on re-reading, that came across very insensitively

Didn't mean Maggie and Linzer that it is great that your dc are having to contend with diabetes of course [apologies]. Meant that this thread is good for sharing

Maggie DD1 was only diagnosed in April so we're still near the beginning of a fairly steep learning curve, although we're feeling a lot less overwhelmed than we were initially. How old is your DS? Good to hear he's doing well on the pump; DD1 is really not enjoying the injections, so can't wait to get one. We're also hoping she can have CGM but are not sure yet whether our health insurance will fund it. The health care we've received so far has been excellent and we feel very well looked after; almost too well, in fact, as she'll have to be in hospital for up to two weeks when she has the pump and I'm already slightly concerned about the logistics of it all. She had to stay in for two weeks when she was first diagnosed but DH was able to take five days "care leave" then, whereas now he has virtually no holiday left to take - and DD2 wants someone with her most of the time (I think it's expected, actually, so that we can get used to everything as well).

x-posts SC; your post really didn't come across as insensitive - I knew exactly what you meant.

Glad your DD is surviving the exams, although tomorrow does sound particularly gruelling. It's been hot here all week and I don't envy DD1 on her sports week; apparently she needs virtually no insulin atm due to the combination of lots of exercise + hot weather. I had to laugh at ironing seeming quite attractive compared with badminton; I know which I'd prefer. (I must admit to rather enjoying ironing; well, perhaps more the fact that it gives me the opportunity to catch up with some British TV without feeling guilty than the ironing itself.)

Re the early coffee, it was friend's suggestion to come over at that time, but I'm definitely a morning person and would much rather meet at 8 am than 8 pm, when I'm no longer capable of much in the way of conversation - civilised or otherwise.

Have managed to clear the pile of paperwork etc from the sofa bed in the "office", which is by far and away the biggest hot spot in our house so feels like quite an achievement. Have also drunk coffee, written a long overdue letter and made appointments for all of us at the dermatologist (online, so quite time-consuming as had to keep logging in and out of appointment system to ensure the appointments were in the correct names, but still preferable to a phone call for a phonephobic like me). Then have a walk uphill to collect DS from friend's to look forward to in less than an hour, but am hoping it will have cooled down a little by then. Honestly, these people who will insist on living up hills with no thought for others.

Goodness Linzer I hope that you can sort out all the logistics around your dd1's hospital visits and stays without too much difficulty. It is great that she is receiving such thorough and good care, but I can see that it must be difficult to balance the needs of all your dc at once; esp now your dh has used up most of his care and holiday leave. That's interesting about the insulin, I would have thought she would need more when being energetic in hot weather, which shows how little I know ...

Many congratulations on ploughing on through with the paperwork and good luck with your hill climbing later on!

Well, before DD1 was diagnosed I didn't have a clue that hot weather, exercise, etc. could affect insulin levels let alone how - like I said, it's a steep learning curve.

Have survived the hill climb (plus a bike ride later on to pick up DS from scouts, but very easy compared to Monday as on the flat) so feel like I deserve some now. Just need to put the DC to bed...

Well, as I have mentioned before, my DH has T1 diabetes too, had it for about 25 years now and he really leads a very normal life, no complications, decent blood glucose levels, so the long term outlook can be very positive. He's still on injections, never felt the need to switch to a pump or had it suggested, but we do follow all the scientific updates with interest.

oh dear today has been lots of dramas re: people getting in a tizz about various things (meal related) Dh has had to go for a very long walk to recover from it all.

Ds2 has been the cause of the dramas (twice) but funnily enough although he sets things off is relatively calm. Today he did lots of exercise - swimming 500m I km run and 3 km bikeride (unfortunately all virtual except for the swimming)

SC I will take a note of those foods and try and offer them to dd who is in a strange phase of being hungry but also fussy.

Today has been a bit of nightmare so I am hoping tomorrow will be better. It seems to be the usual family "triangles" [or rhomboids] that cause the trouble - individuals are not necessarily at fault.. All I know is that I do not want to sit through another dysfunctional family meal until breakfast

WhoKnows Yes, I remember you were very reassuring when I was first worried about DD1. It's good to hear a positive story; I read so many negative things in groups on FB (alongside a few positives) that I sometimes think I'm on the lookout for problems where there aren't any.

Today has been quite productive.

ta da!
2 loads of laundry
more junk down to shed
Took delivery of new rugs and front gate
Decluttered loads of old birthday cards, postcards etc
Trip to garden centre for patio pots
Potted up plants
Swept patio
Tidied garden
Tea for me and boys
Cleaned kitchen
Shined sink
Swept floor

We had a bullfinch on the bird feeders this morning, which was lovely to see. Tea was successful too - plain poached fish, rice and peas, with a side order of stir fried vegetables in sauce for me.

Hope you can get the logistics sorted Linzer, and bon courage to DD and to you for tomorrow, SC.

Hope things improved, swan, and that you are getting used to the diagnosis etc, DEM.

We're viewing a promising house tomorrow...

SC - thank you for the tip about the radio programme, I will listen to it, I know the phone-in is on Iplayer from when I was on it a few months ago. %Live is my morning station of choice but I went to work early today and missed the phone-in. They have done several good features on SENs in recent months.

Hope the house turns out to be good Blue

Not much Flying today, what with work and faffing about on MN. Did spend a pleasant hour at the allotment this evening though.

Not much Flying for me yesterday either in the end. Cooked a lot. Went for long dog walk. Faffed about and did a couple of hr's emergency work for dh (who is back tonight) and spent the rest of the time tending to dd who is bearing up very well considering.

Thank you for all the 'good lucks' on her behalf. She has just gone off to her last full day of one language set of exams and one of the sports elements. Thankfully, the forecast seems to have shifted forward and the very hot weather is due in tomorrow.

Whoknows I was always a firm Radio4 listener but started to find the old Today team a bit wearisome and the programme a bit stolid/tedious/ponderous. Finding myself increasingly turning over to Radio 5 live - I like the clever business bloke who comes on from Singapore in the very early morning - whole format is intelligent but a bit livelier.

Yes, good luck with the house viewing Blue! Congrats on your v. productive day yesterday!

Swan good luck with ed psych today and hears to less dramas today - I definitely have sympathy with the uneasy threesome dynamic!

To do:
iron my clothes for today again
verify when plumber is coming (because of leak)
morning routine inc animals dw, wm, s&s and dining room table hot spots
walk dog!
ironing!!
boudoir!!
sent back on-line parcels and pack up other parcels
make soup
make a cake for dd to take in tomorrow
quick supermarket run
think of something delicious and nutritious for supper tonight

Doesn't sound a lot but ironing alone could keep me going for full 6 hrs I reckon at least!

Had better get on with it!

Big encouraging wing flaps to everyone!

Just back from English lesson, penultimate one of this school year - can't believe how time is flying. Now about to carry on with tidying/decluttering; work still hasn't materialised, but large job won't now be arriving (if at all) until next week. Am now waiting for the go-ahead on another job, however.

SC How do you listen to the radio? (Most luddite-sounding question ever!) I had a BBC radio app on my phone but deleted it as I never used it and now only really listen to podcasts - but could do with a change from my usual two or three programmes.

Blue Good luck with the house viewing!

Linzer I'm the last person to be asking about technical matters but I have something called a Logitech Internet Radio (actually this is my second because the rabbits, much to the consternation of dh, ate the first one). The connection cuts out occasionally but other than that, it works really well.