I think I'm going to be sent on a 'Parenting Course'..

[Hangingbellyofbabylon]

Having an on-going discussion with senco and paediatrician who do not believe that any of dd's behaviour issues are related to her CP and that she is just naughty. Yes, she is sometimes naughty but she also shows obsessional and defiant behaviour that is just not 'normal'.

our school senco asked for advice from a local special school that specialises in children with cerebral palsy. She was told that as dd does not have learning difficulties she cannot have any behavioural problems and so is just being 'naughty' and needs disciplining. The paediatrician also says she needs discipline and my parenting skills need improving.

I am so pissedo off as I know my child and I also know how common behvioural stuff is in children with CP, we can't all be shit parents! .

anyway, I've been asked to front up to the local clinic to collect forms for a course. I just know it's going to be a fecking parenting course and if I don't go they will forever be able to cite the fact that they did offer support but I turned it down.

anyone been on one of these courses? I feel like it's another hoop to jump through that I really don't need.

I am doing a parenting course at the moment. For me it is about regaining confidence to spend time with my ds and building a social circle for me. The woman leading the course has a ds very similar to mine (DCD, suspected ASD, sensory issues) so it means I can also get hints and tips from her to deal with some of DS's issues. I have come away with ideas to use with my ds, and have realised that I am doing ok as a parent, that in actual fact I am able to give more suggestions to others than I am getting tips myself.

We also have a laugh (this week we were practising the ignoring technique. I badgered my partner so successfully I got what I wanted , not the intention of the session but made me laugh, something I don't do often), a chat, and most of us have swapped phone numbers so we have support and someone to turn to in between sessions if we want/need it (and it is lovely getting a text saying 'Hi hows it going', or 'Hope your ds is feeling better' when he was ill etc, makes you feel like there is someone out there).

The thing that IMO has made it so succesful is the school decided to run it as an in-house group, so it wasnt a group of strangers and the building was familiar. I was extremely depressed when the course started, and there is no way I could have done it out of that safe zone, it was hard enough being in a place I knew with staff I knew in the vicinity, and I know others feel the same. However, that does not mean that others are not as successful, I just feel it would not have been for me.