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[AmongstTheCosmos]

Dd has some additional needs. (Dyspraxia) We'd suspected that she might have a developmental delay from when she was quite young but it has taken quite a long time for us to be taken seriously by health professionals, and basically only really got acknowledged once school had noticed it.

She's well supported at school and is making good progress. I'm very proud of her and how far she's come. She's a lovely little girl and I feel really lucky to be her mum.

I'm getting really annoyed by people giving me the sympathetic head tilt whenever they ask about Dd and how she's getting on. It's also getting harder as she's getting older in some ways. She really struggles with going up and down stairs, and needs a lot of extra time. When she was little people were understanding and gave us space. Now she's older, people hassle her, barge past her, huff etc.

I dunno. I just feel a bit lonely and worn down. Somehow it feels as though people are only able to see her additional needs and not all of the other things about her, but then in other ways people make no allowances whatsoever for hidden disabilities etc.

I'm a parent of 2 DDs with dyspraxia, one who also has dyslexia.
I think dyspraxia is less well known / understood than dyslexia.

How old is your DD?

We have found that things we practice the DDs can improve on, things we don't practice, they don't. Both were hopeless at sport, but both swim well. They learned to ride bikes later than peers, though not really road safe. DD1 drives an automatic car (DD2 not started learning yet). I have a friend with a DS who has dyspraxia who has just got a 1st for his Economics degree.

Please try to find a hobby/interest your DD can succeed in. It will do wonders for supporting her self esteem. The trouble with dyspraxia it it can be very visible to peers.

None of that is probably what you were writing about. I have found I mainly get best support from other parents whose children are different or struggling in some way. I hope you find a way to find peace.

Thank you for your lovely reply. Dd is 6 so still pretty young really.

It's interesting what you said about the swimming - Dd is also quite good at that but obviously struggles with other sports etc.

And it's a good point about the hobby. Dd is very imaginative and creative and she's been doing a youth theatre thing for the last year which she loves and hopefully will be building her confidence as well.

Theatre is good for so many things, my DD1 loved drama and & AmDram. DD2 loves animals (which is great, but not something that was 'respected' by peers).

Ignore sympathetic head tilts from acquaintances. Talk to people who seem to understand and let others think what they will.