Earlier today i met with a friend whom is married, financially stable, lovely house, with 2 very bright under 5 year old daughters.
She asks about my boys and I explain the situation, that it is relentless, stressful, 2 tribunals literally being heard a month within each other, a JR, issues with little DS school and SLT, still looking for post 16 for the other and all the rest (she knows I am a lone parent, and I mean lone, not even respite on a weekend) .
What has really upset me are the gems like:
"you need to keep on top of your child's progress, you cant just leave it to the teachers" - Well if I wasn't doing that I would not now be in a position of dragging everyone to court, it is because i am keeping on top of it I am battling them all.
"You have to take time for yourself and concentrate on your life" - So I should allow my son to leave school with grades that will not even get him a job at KFC, not becasue he cant achieve those grades but becasue the LA and school have been unlawful. My DS did not choose to be born into this crappy SEN mess, I have total responsibility and when I had him I knew I would always fight tooth and nail for him no matter what, and I will continue to do this until I SEE FIT, and if that is until he is 25 then so be it.
"You need to only assign a couple of hours a day and switch off from your tribunal case" - Words fail me here, as anyone whom has been through the tribunal process with a particularly difficult LA or school will know that the amount of effort, research, etc..is incredibly time consuming, especially as you are nearing deadlines.
She also diagnosed my DS as not being on the spectrum becasue he is academically able - FFS!
If nothing else this has taught me to keep my trap shut from now on unless the person has experience or an understanding of the SEN system.