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 :)

Yep, me too!
When I first took Tom out of school his friends and their mothers (who I thought were my friends) were quite keen on arranging play dates/teas etc.
Then I told them he wasn't going up to juniors, and I am not exaggerating, the phone never rang again and my texts went unanswered.
I got the message.
I like to be with people who want to be with me and enjoy spending time together, not people who are silently (or not so silently) judging me and my dc.
I have come to the conclusion since that they were obv very insecure in their own feelings about their choice of school and my decision brought those feelings to the fore.
The school in question has gone from ofsted outstanding to satisfactory in the 3 years since we left and the HT is one of the most horrible people I have ever met.
The staff have been leaving in droves and - apparently - there is an FB group now up and running criticising the school and HT!!
How times change...

Badvoc, I agree. Parents do have this tendency to see anything that you do as an implicit or even explicit criticism of their own choices. We may move DD at some point (for various reasons, including that the HT is a weasel who couldn't run the proverbial piss up in a brewery) and I am dreading that, because I know it won't go down well. But all it means is that it's not the right school for DD, not that I think they are all a bunch of losers. Sigh.

Nothing to report here, as it's a couple of weeks until we go and see Robin. I hope I get better at remembering to give DD the vegepa before then! She is, however, already better at brushing her teeth while standing on her left leg!

I think people like to have someone to blame. So when they first see your child behaving differently it is because you are a bad parent. Then they realise you are intelligent, well educated etc and it becomes because you are a middle class helicopter parent who can't accept their child is naughty. No one wants to accept that some children are born with neurological difficulties, unless there is something physical to hang your hat on.
I've managed to keep my friends from ds' old school so far but I've made a point of really playing down his improvements with them. When asked I say we're pleased he is happier at school. I don't say we are pleased that finally someone is marking his homework, changing his reading book, encouraging his good behaviour etc etc because I know that will make them feel I am judging their decision to leave their dcs at the school.

Prince - so sorry that this simple thing of enjoying a lunch date has become so stressful for you. Its such a shame because these dates should give us parents the chance to unwind ,have some moral support and a good old chat about how hard it is to be 'just' a parent! But when you are on edge about DC's behaviour, the one thing that should be a pleasure becomes even more stressful. I also used to feel guilty because I used to pray DS wouldn't do anything too extreme because I didn't want him to be noticed, or singled out as different. I just didn't want to face the obvious and have other childrens' behavior reinforce that .

I think its excellent advice that you should go and be prepared to leave early if needs be. Isolating yourself really can be damaging. Good luck!

We are due for our 2nd appt with Robin soon. I was discouraged at first because I didn't see any results but sometimes the small things creep up on you! I have noticed that DS2 has lost his need for constant spinning. (himself around the room until he fell over!) His tics and throat clearing have really diminished :) He is sleeping better, night terrors not so common. We still have ocd and other forms of anxiety to contend with and his inability to concentrate for more than 5 mins but so far he is doing exactly what Robin said he would and in the right order! So I look forward to the next part of the adventure with more hope in my heart x

:)
All sounds very positive itwillbebetter!

Itwillbebetter, sounds like it is becoming better :)
I think the reduction in spinning, tics etc will make a big difference to your lives. Things like that are clear 'evidence' to me that Robin knows what he is doing, but still there are so many naysayers. Don't get it. I hope ( and am totally convinced) you'll see more improvements over the next months.

Prince - also so sorry to hear and definitely understand that feeling of approaching play dates with dread rather than excitement. I also think the idea of an early duck-out idea if things start to go pearshaped is great and keep my fingers crossed for you that things go better than you fear.

itwillbebetter - sounds great :)

Also wondering if anyone here ever experienced headaches (DS, not mine, although I have plenty ! ) He's had about 3 in the last couple of weeks, in the morning on the way to school. He's in a good mood and not worried about school so it's not anxiety or trying to avoid. I wondered if it might have something to do with his vision training...... probably unrelated.

Maybe I need to get him to drink more.....

Hope your lunch goes ok tomorrow prince x
I miss Tom so much :(
Ds2 does too. He keeps asking how many more sleeps til he is home.
I hope the weather hasn't put a damper in things for them today.
Dh is all stressed trying to work out how to use his new work phone (iPhone 5) :)
Wrt headaches...Tom never complained of a headache as such, but he did used to day his eyes were tired/felt strange.
More water would be a good idea.
Keep a diary of headache symptoms and see if they lessen as he progresses?

Harrietv, ds never mentioned headaches but I used to get them when he was doing VT and I find hemi p and t unbearable. I have to sit well away from the screen. Wouldn't be surprised if it's the flashy bits causing the headaches.

Thanks everyone. You're all lovely.

I also have DD's IEP review first thing. Could be a full on day!

Ugh.
Not a good start to the day!
Tom back tomorrow!
Hurrah!

Back later for more chat, but GOOD LUCK Prince! What a day.... Sounds like everyone has given you great advice, so I hope it goes well. Interesting to see your review too.

Badvoc - not long now!

Hope Tom gets back safely and with a bag bursting with dirty clothes - a sign of a good time, I think!

Prince, with you all the day today. Have been in plenty of situations with ds where I have felt the disapproval emanating from other parents! Luckily, because ds' issues started later, he had lots of people who knew what he was really like and so recognised that his behaviour was really out of character for him.

You can bet that in the years to come, all the parents who are there for lunch today will be facing some sort of tricky behaviour and by then, you will have gone through this stage.

Harriet, the HTS (vision program) that ds had to do did make his eyes hurt but I always put his headaches down to his seizures.

Down to the forest tonight ready for our meeting with Robin tomorrow. Fingers crossed for something new!

Only 4 hours to go!.....
Hope it goes well daft x

We're back. And in one piece

Firstly - Badvoc, I hope Tom made it back safe and sound and that he had a great time.

DaftMaul - good luck tomorrow. I hope it goes well and that the new forest looks lovely for you. It was good to go this time in sunshine rather than freezing weather

Today went OK. The IEP meeting was good although the SENCO is the most disorganised person and didn't have anything ready for us, so we spent ages looking for things rather than getting started.

But essentially - she has met her targets and needs new ones! The two good ones were that she needed to sit in group work for 7 minutes and she can do 10 - 15 (although not if she is not directly involved in the work) and that she should interact with her peers, which she now does. She plays with people. It is still quite basic but she is not spending the time on her own anymore.

So we have new targets and I am very proud of her.

And lunch went fine. She was slow to warm up and wasn't as easy with the others as they were with each other and her speech really does hold her back. But she was lovely and played and ate her lunch and it was easy enough. really glad we went so thank you everyone for your support.

And whilst she is behind others it wasn't as hard as it has been in the past. I really did try not to compare.

Phew. Looking forward to the weekend now.

How are you all?

Oh prince. I am so delighted for you and your dd ;)
I was thinking of you earlier.
Great about new targets too!
Tom is back (I think he wore the same pants for 3 days) and loved it :)
I told him he much I missed him and he said, and I quote;
"I don't quite know how to tell you this mum but I didn't miss you!"
Little ratbag :)
He spent all his spending money (£5) on gifts for ds2 and he and his 3 room mates won "best room" out of 29 rooms for best behaviour :)
Am so, so proud of him, I could burst!
I am so proud of ALL of our dc. They will be taking on the world soon, you'll see :)
X

Yay for your DS. It is quite amazing isn't it? They can get there. I am beginning to believe that.

I am very glad he didn't miss you (meant in the nicest possible way). That is just as it should be :)

I also have to say that I am pleased with DD's school (she is at the nursery attached to the school she will go to). They have already decided on the teacher they would like her to be placed with and the adult support they would like her to have when she goes to reception in September. This is all without a statement in place.

At least I don't have to fight them for support.

Yep :)
He was horrified that one of his friends dads went too (he is a gov)
Apparently if I went it would cramp his style! :)
It's really strange.
It's like this is the real Tom, hidden behind all his issues for so long.
But he is truly shining now
He is my star :)

Prince...that sounds very positive. If you can access support without a statement it will save you a LOT of stress and time!
My ds2 is also at the pre school attached to the school he will attend in sept and it's lovely to have that rapport already there.

Yay for Tom and only wearing one pair of pants

Prince, well done. It sounds as though lunch went really well.

We are at my parents, about to go for tea at the pub. We call it 'having a Hobler'

Happy Friday all

Yey! What lovely news for a Friday eve - well done Badvoc and Prince and both your little ones.
And good luck tomorrow DaftMaul!
My discovery this morning: banana pancakes made with 1 mashed banana and 2 eggs. All whizzed up together, fry in a pan making each pancake the size of your palm. And hey presto! DS thought they were proper pancakes and didn't moan about cooked breakfast! They're pretty yummy. Have a great weekend all.

:)
Sadly ds2 seems to have picked up a sickness bug :(
That's my weekend up the spout!

So pleased for you Prince. Dd is doing sooooo well :)
Hurrah for Tom not missing you Badvoc ( meant in the nicest possible way). Hope it goes well today Daftmaul.

Evening
Prince - that is such good news and takes the pressure off. They sound great and incredibly supportive. Really pleased to hear about your playdate too. These can be so stressful. DS wasn't invited to a friends birthday party last week because of his hitting which hurt, but I can see their point of view..

Well done Tom.
Daft - hope you had a great day.
Harriet - never mind the dcs, I like the sound of your breakfast!

We had our review with Robin and DD is making fantastic progress and is now doing chair, stair, Richard Scarry and now number search. DS is improving but and now on Stair, Where's Wally, letter search and now Engaging Eyes which looks fantastic. We hosted a great playdate yesterday - DS didn't always join in, but he didn't hit anyone (whey hey!) and was incredibly helpful. I am so relieved and proud of him...

Have good weekends.