I know there is a starting secondary school thread somewhere but I cant find it and really need some flaps and honks!

[Ineedmorepatience]

Dd3's stress levels are going through the roof and I know why but cant do anything to help

We cut our holiday short this week because she was going downhill fast and didnt want to stay. I had planned to be away until Friday so she was occupied and not thinking about it.

She has melted down this morning over not being able to have a coloured door key, apparently our lock is too old And over not wanting me to have a cushion on the sofa!!

We need to make a new visual timetable for the mornings but not sure its a good idea, what do you all think?

Shame that people thought it was funny to wind your Ds up polter but well done him for using the strategies he had available to him!!! That is a HUUUUGE achievement and good on the staff for taking notice.

Just packing car and cant wait to see the sea later!!

Well I need an award for my medal. DD mentioned in passing about the TAs in some of her lessons today (the fact there is a different one for PE to Maths I think). I managed to totally hide any surprise that there was a TA in her class at all. Coming from Primary she thinks its normal to have a TA around (I think she has usually been in a class with someone with a statement).
She doesn't realise the TA is probably there for her, yet. I'm impressed they got the resourcing in place so quickly.
Of course we are all waiting for an explosion which may not happen. If she realised the communication and observation going on behind the scenes she could manipulate it, but she is far too honest and straight forward to do that. She lives so much in the moment.
She hasn't used her exit pass yet. She has cried a few times, but doesn't seem to be being teased. She is worried that she hasn't managed to be on time for any classes yet (except English), its a huge school and one of her lesson changes is close to the worst there can be. I'm hoping she learns to move faster.

polter: just read this. Brilliant news about your DS! It seems that everything you have worked for is paying off! well done!

Have a good week-end Ineed!

Wow, that's brilliant polter! It also sounds like the school is very supportive! Great news.
Dd is doing very well she is of course her usual anxious self, but I have been nicely surprised in many ways. I just have to see how she holds the distance! She's made me very proud this week .

I know what you mean but maybe it won't, maybe we'll plot along Just Fine ..most of the time anyway! After all we went thorough secondary school ourselves, we lived to tell the tale and we had no support, our kids do. I have to say that it is only today that I am breathing again, it has been a rather stressful week, worrying about dd.

Great news polter

Dd3 has had a good day too it seems, she walked home with some different people from her original primary which I was pleased about for 2 reasons, firstly they live closer to us so she was not on her own at all and secondly because relying on one person to walk every day is not great.

She has been logged on to the school computer thing today so she can check her homework schedules online, which of course she is delighted about.

She also bought hot food for lunch today which is a first, I monitor her stress levels by the level of sameness in her lunch bag so this is very positive.

Hope the week continues like this

.... and today's headline news is that ds2 was persuaded to get into his taxi this morning. He's come home a bit cross but hey little steps.

ds1 has brought home some very flat cakes so I won't be passing them round & had a good day too.

I love that analogy Polter.

polter that is a brilliant quote, he should publish this or give it to the NAS!

yeah! to the taxi!!!

Fantastic quote polter, so clever to put it into words

Great news about the taxi one and I hope the cakes taste good, even if they dont look great

Dd3 has food tech tomorrow, she is making a fruit salad She is currently insisting that she is putting cucumber in it because that is definitely a fruit!

Ha ha, you have to love 'em

Ooo emoticon overload!

I know that but not sure how it will go down at school!! You know what teachers are like. Fingers crossed they dont try to tell her she is wrong

Aargh! spoke to soon about taxi success - we are back to square one this morning with complete refusal after it turned up nearly half an hour early. We have no idea how to progress from this.

Aaah!
DD has got herself into trouble. She has a detention tomorrow.
YEs she didn't do her work. Yes she didn't take herself out of class. Yes she tore some pages from her planner.
But they are all signs she is not coping. She doesn't get the rules. She hasn't decided that using her "exit card" is less frightening than getting in trouble yet.
Just as she hadn't decided asking for help was less frightening than getting into trouble.
And success she didn't hurt anyone!

Now do I send an email to everyone?