TINSLEY HOUSE SUPPORT THREAD - PART 3!!!! :)

[Badvoc]

Well, here is the shiny new thread for all of us either doing the TH programme, doing part of it, or thinking about doing it! :)
A brief synopsis of stage 1 of the programme can be found in the books "is that my child?" Or "the brain food plan" by robin pauc;

Stage 1 of the TH therapy consists of:

1. Daily Multivitamins

• Omega
• Zinc & Magnesium

1. Healthy eating

• High protein, low sugar, no artificial sweeteners, additives etc.

1. Specific neuro development exercises done 3 times a day

• Takes about 4-5 mins

And that's it :)

Stage 2 involves computer programmes to sort out eye tracking and convergence which over 80% of children with reading/writing problems have.

• www.engagingeyes.co.uk

We are coming to the end of our time doing TH I reckon...certainly by the end of the summer I think. It has been in many ways much easier than I thought at the beginning but of course takes commitment and time.

I am so glad we "took the plunge". It has made such a difference to ds and to our lives :)

I am like shopping...we could be stricter but have had such good results we have found our level I think.
Tom no longer has bowel issues which is fab.
He is also growing fast :)

brightstars when we started, DS was really bad at it. Both feet on each step up and down, and very wobbly. And like you say, he would be bending forward so not upright either. He can now go up with one foot on each step. Coming down is no longer wobbly, but he still puts both feet on each step. This sounds awful, but we tie his arms by his sides and put a blindfold on him! It was the only way to get him doing it properly. In the beginning, we held his arms by his sides, but even though he wasn't leaning on us, he was still using our touch to steady himself. He actually improved loads when we started tying his arms down. We just have to be right next to him in case he falls. It's been quite slow progress, but he is steadily getting better at it.

He has never really complained about doing the exercises either. We've just fitted them in as part of our daily routine. We do one set after breakfast, another after lunch and the third on our way up to the bath. They don't really get in the way.

On diet, as others have said, I think we all find our own equilibrium. We have upped protein overall, dumped any junk or stuff with E numbers, and I keep a close eye on sugars (including fruit and juice). DS won't entertain a cooked breakfast so we do a small bowl of porridge first thing then a protein "second breakfast" about 9am. I also don't worry too much when we're out. We bought one of the little books with E numbers from Robin. "What's really in your basket?" or something like that. Quite helpful for avoiding rubbish.

I do lots of home baking but I've cut that drastically too. Now it's a proper treat when we have it. I made a chocolate cake 2 weeks ago as we had family over for dinner. DS spent the afternoon looking at it, sniffing it, practically drooling over it, telling me it smelled delicious... He hadn't had any for weeks and relished every single crumb!

I never thought Tom would "get" the stairs!
He was dreadful at it!
Proof he needed it I guess :)

Hope you are all enjoying the lovely sunshine? :)
Tom and I have Solent the morning at church running a stall and he was great :) was a big help, spoke to people, took money etc.
Just unthinkable a year ago.
He is also off on his residential trip tomorrow til Friday - gulp - he is all packed.
Feel especially proud of my boy today :)

Just loving the sun - can hardly believe what wonderful days we've had. This morning we went for a walk to see the bluebells and DS recognised a cuckoo and woodpecker! The sun brings out the best in all of us . We've got our review with Robin this week which I'm really looking forward to.

Sounds like Tom is on great form! Where is he going on his trip? Has he been away before?

No, he hasn't ruggles. It's a residential outdoor bounds type place about 1.5 hours away.
He is a bit jittery and worried tonight :( but that's to be expected I guess.
First time away from home and all that.
He is sleeping in his sleeping bag tonight - hope I can get the damn thing back in its stuff sack! :)

Gosh, I am worried for you all, so can only imagine how you must be feeling. Great that he's sleeping in his sack tonight - he's got the right idea! I have my fingers and toes crossed for you all.

Thank you.
I will be a wreck tomorrow! :(

Hope Tom gets off ok today. He will have a ball! Did you pack the sun cream?!

Daft...He will never get it all back in on Friday! :)
Ah well.
He is taking not one, not two, but three books with him to read whilst he is there! :)
He seems so grown up all of a sudden.

Well, he's gone.
He was a bit tearful :(
I managed to hold it together (just)
My baby! (Sobs)

Well done for keeping smiling! You may be quite pleased if he does not bring all his dirty stuff home!

Ds has reached level 20 on tracking - yay, at last! He is so hoping to not have to do any more Wally after seeing Robin on Saturday. Fingers crossed.

Oh and forgot to say ... great excitement here at the weekend with ds getting his first mobile phone! He will be coming home on his own from school himself for the first time tomorrow - I am not sure who is more pleased about that, him or me!

Well done Badvoc I'm sure he won't look back now he's there. How fab! I felt like this when mine did a sleepover at a friend's house the other month. They're big steps but brilliant ones!
Well - we've been doing supps and diet for a month now, and TH proper exercises for over 2 weeks (prior to this we were attempting stairs but turns out not quite correctly!) And I feel tentative real differences emerging since DS1 started back at school.
The main one being he talks about what went on at school - can actually recall and discuss what he's done in maths/literacy, and how much he managed to do of the work set. Today he says he did all 8 qs on a comprehension. Teacher in the past has says he only ever does one or two sentences and DS1 never comments.
He managed for the second week running to do a page of weekend news which prior to this was utterly unheard of and even if the inspiration and content was a fluke and it was messy and unpunctuated which I'm sure it was, he seemed genuinely proud to have achieved it and eager to try to do so again.
And today his teacher put a note in his book today that he's "starting to show signs of being more engaged in his school work"! It came with a caveat that he's still very easily distracted, but I feel encouraged.
I also think he's sleeping better (going off way more easily which is fabulous). Homework still a mega chore and moods quite on edge but yes, I think slowly we might be seeing evidence of a move in the right direction!
And blimey does he have energy after his enormous cooked breakfast followed by greek yoghurt and vitamin chaser! Almost too much?!
All very interesting...and hopeful :)

I'm sorry I haven't been around much. It's a bit remiss of me and now I am coming on here as I am feeling a bit teary about something and I don't know where else to turn or who else might understand.

Me and DD were supposed to be going for lunch on Friday at a friends house with another friend and all of us have DD's the same age. I find this kind of thing hard as it just shows how different DD can be. And she is also beginning to find them harder as she now seems more aware of her difference. However I decided to say yes as it was small and they are good friends and it might be good for us both.

Another friend (who I don't know as well) then invited the original 2 friends and 1 other to lunch at hers on Friday (everyone has DD's the same age and therefore it was a lunch for the littlies). So now as I was supposed to be having lunch with the others I have been invited also. All fine and good. Except I am feeling really teary about it.

Just knowing how awful it is going to be. DD will not now how to join in. She may try and it won't work, or she won't try. The others will all have fun together and are starting to form friendships. I am sure I don't have to explain it to you.

I don't know what to do. I will be upset if I make an excuse and don't go because it makes me so sad that DD can't do this kind of thing. It will make me upset if I do go.

I just want to cry. DD has come so far and yet I know that a simple lunch with friends is just too much for us. How sad is that.

I fucking hate this.

Oh prince :(
I would imagine all of us on here have similar stories and totally understand your feelings.
Tom was unable to cope at all with play dates/lunches til he was much older.
And - I am not proud of this - I was embarrassed that my child was the only one who seemed to struggle with everything :(
He was scared of everything and everyone.
It was very isolating.
So, my advice would be to go, get out for you not for your dd.
She isn't ready to cope yet. But she will be.
See your friends, and try (hollow laughter) not to compare....that way madness lies :)
Sending hugs x

Sounds great Harriet :)
Am missing Tom so much :(
Feel bereft!

Thanks Badvoc. You're right maybe I can do it for me. I don't want to isolate myself further.

Yes I get embarrassed too. It's awful isn't it? I feel so disloyal. DD won't get scared, but she may get overwhelmed and therefore screechy and won't listen and hit out. Christ it may well be truly awful :(

I have PMT which makes me anxious anyway so this is not really helping.

Thing is if I hadn't been invited I would feel even worse. No one can win can they

Sorry you are missing Tom - but you must be so proud that he has gone.

Perhaps just stay til it gets too much for her?
Maybe she will surprise you! (Hope so)
Yes, I am very proud of Tom :)
IB has asked me to update you wrt her dd...she has just got level 4s on sats papers :) her reading is so much better and her processing speed is much faster.
I am going to try and arrange a get together at Windsor in August if anyone is interested?
X

Ooohhhh...lunch play date and pmt!?
The only answer is cake.
And lots of it :)

Harrietv, great news, sounds like you're starting to see some cerebellum changes already :)
Prince, I know exactly how you feel. I spent the first year of dd's life confined to the house more or less because of ds' melt downs. He would hit out and lay on the floor crying in people's houses but also do a runner in the park so there was nowhere I felt I could arrange to meet people. It's totally shit and so isolating.
I would go but go with a pre planned reason for leaving slightly early - we need to take books back to the library to avoid a fine or something similar. Then you can go and enjoy the chat, keep an eye on dd and if she's had enough head off to 'the library' pre melt down.
She is making massive progress, it would be wonderful if the progress could be even faster but it will come, I'm sure of it.

Thank you both. Honestly just having people 'get it' makes such a difference. I will go with no expectations and when I know things are going downhill will leave sharpish.

And then I will come in here and make you laugh with all the wonderful and oh so slightly embarrassing things she did!

:)

Oh, we "get it" alright! :)
And tbh, I have a pretty much zero tolerance now for people who don't.
Life's too short etc.

Me too, the thread the other day about the woman who was considering not seeing her friend because of her 'badly behaved' dd made me cry. I've been the dumped friend. I don't take any shit from unsupportive eople nowadays though. Life is, indeed, too short.