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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

I'd appreciate hearing from parents of children with special needs that have 3+ children,

49 replies

ButterfliesInStomach · 24/01/2007 10:18

I've just discovered I'm pregnant with no.3
I'm really nor sure how I feel but I know I'm scared and worried and generally just very unsure. My DH is saying that he doesn't want this child and is not going to change his mind. .

My eldest son has special needs, he's 5 and my youngest son has recently turned 1.

Some of the reasons I have never ruled out having a third child is because I think that there will be times DS2 could feel like an only child so another NT sibling would be good for him, I think that child no 3 and DS2 will be a great support to each other later on in life and to DS1 as he grows up.

However, now I'm actually here I'm scared. Scared of how I'll cope with a not very hands on husband, I love him dearly but he isn't the most involved super-dad and struggles a bit with aspects of fatherhood. When / if this baby comes DS1 will be 6 and still unable to do much for himself and DS2 will be19 months.

What if DH doesn't support my decision to have this child at all? What if it tears us apart. We live in a small 3 bed-roomed house, we don't earn very much money. How will we ever afford 2 lots of childcare, a bigger car; how will we ever leave the house again!

Basically I'd appreciate hearing form you if you have more than two children and one of them has special needs.

What's the best thing about it, what's the worst?

I'd really appreciate some food for thought and points to think about when DH and I sit down and discuss what we do next.

OP posts:
geekgrrl · 27/01/2007 13:56

oh right - I didn't know that. they have offered inappropriate & impractical types of respite (involving sending dd2 away for the weekend [like we would??!!], or driving her & thus the other children too 45 minutes across town each way to attend a 2 hour after-school playscheme) so I will investigate this further.

Sorry for the hijack, TC

Dinosaur · 27/01/2007 22:03

TeeCee, congratulations!

As you know, I am struggling to come to terms with DS3 also having special needs but we all love him to bits and DS1 and DS2 have a very positive relationship with him. In fact, DS1 has adored him ever since the day I brought him home from the hospital and has endless patience with him, which I think has been a profoundly beneficial experience for DS1 as well (he so wasn't like that when he was a toddler and DS2 was a baby!).

Anyway, I'm chuffed for you, you'll carry on being the same lovely mum and all your DCs will be lucky to have you as their mum.

yearoftheox · 27/01/2007 22:55

Butterfliesinstomach - many congrats, and just a little note about DHs: from someone who's DH was not overly involved when DCs were young - so much so that many thought I was a single parent as they never saw him in the park or out with us! be patient - my DH started doing loads more with them as they got older - just couldn't take the grind of young children.

There were times when I felt I couldn't cope with 3 young children, (3rd DS AS) but found I could get through these moments if I adopted a kind of 'we're all in it together against the world' mentality, as unless you're lucky with relatives, no one is going to come along and rescue you from it! When at the end of your tether, try lying on the floor and let them crawl all over you - pref. with chocs. on hand!

Jimjams2 · 27/01/2007 23:45

geekgrrl read page 2 of thisparents guide to direct payments It's from the every child matters government website- really worth reading, basically if your council offers you as being in need of a service (which they have they have offered you 2) they have to offer dps as an alternative. From the Health and Social Care Act 2000 "it is now mandatory for local authorities to offer the choice of direct payments" They should provide you with a copy of the booklet, but you can read it all form the lnk anyway. (also knock of the end bit of the url and broswe round the everychildmatters site. If they had said you didn't need help then fine , they wouldn't have to give dps (although presumably you could appeal) but as they've offered you services they have to offer the monetary equivalent.

coppertop · 28/01/2007 13:37

I had no idea who BIS was.

Congratulations, Teecee!

Eulalia · 28/01/2007 22:30

Hi BIS - not read the posts but here's my situation. Got 3 children. ds1 has special needs (autism). He is 7.5. He'd just turned 6 when we had our 3rd. dd is 4.75 and youngest is ds2 at 17 months.

I sympathise as my dh isn't very hands on either. In fact I do everything really, except perhaps dh looks after the younger two for half an hour while I do homework with ds1. Every night I put them all to bed and I have them all day every weekend as dh is renovating our house.

It will be hard for you but it will get better. I was surprised how much my ds1 loved having a baby around. He wasn't really aware of dd when she was born as he was too much locked in his own world then. The age gaps are different with you and it will be nice for your younger two to be close in age.

Best thing is just the pleasure of 3 children and the different dynamics you get... worst... all the extra washing, feeding and extra attention which eats into my time... in fact I have no spare time at all really (currently getting ds2 to sleep on my lap!)

onlyjoking9329 · 28/01/2007 22:40

congrats Teecee, we have three with autism and we manage ok most of the time

lou33 · 28/01/2007 22:57

awww tc many congrats

blossomhill · 29/01/2007 09:14

Great news Teecee. Really happy for you xxxxxx
I hope this baby thing isn't catching, lots around atm

Flamesparrow · 29/01/2007 09:23

Just crashing - been following and wondered what you'd decided, and then saw outed you on here

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!

lou33 · 29/01/2007 09:24

oh bh dont say that, i've done my share of populating the world i think!

FioFio · 29/01/2007 09:25

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PeachyClair · 29/01/2007 10:52

Hello!

I have 3 (would kike four but we;ll see what happens). DS1 has Aspergers/ HFA, DS3 has ASD and speech problems.

Not sure what to say really exvcept that you will muddle through. It might be worth chatting to your HV about getting in a HomeStart volunteer for supprt, all you need is a child under 5 in the family so you'd qualify fine.

Bumblelion · 29/01/2007 11:11

Firstly congratulations on No. 3. My circumstances are a bit different in that it is my 3rd child that has special needs. Saying that, if she had been first-born (or second), I like to think I would have gone on to have No. 2 and/or 3.

Also, my daughter was 9 when the youngest was born and my son was 4.5 (they are now 14, 9 (nearly 10) and 5 (SN), although her special needs did not appear until she was 9 months or so (although I knew something was not quite right from an earlier age).

The one thing I found hardest (getting easier now that some of the therapists are not so involved now that she is at school) was making sure that, as a single parent (husband left when youngest was 11 weeks old) I gave my elder two the time and attention they deserve.

Now I do still find that I spend more time with my youngest (hospital appointments, etc.) but that time is not "quality" time, it is "necessity" time and I try to give each of them the time and attention they each need. I don't want them feeling resentful towards the youngest because of her need (although they do seem to be very understanding and accepting of her).

Me and my eldest now like to have "girly" nights (watching a girly film) after the others are in bed. The film may not be my choice but it gives me time with my DD on our own.

My son loves playing board games (as well as being a typical boy and liking his PS2, PSP, etc.) but I try and make sure that once the youngest is in bed, at the weekend, on a Saturday night, we play a board game together. I also sit with him every night and, although he is a very fluent reader (reading age 14), I like him to read to me as it gives us time together.

Although I spend lots of time with youngest DD with appointments, I also try to spend time with her doing "fun" things, making cakes, playing teacher, doing puzzles (one of her abilities).

I would say my biggest problem is the age gap and the genders involved (when DD2 was born, DD1 was 9). That means that when DD2 is 9 her sister will be 18 (scary thought).

Although DD has SN, I would not be without her, being the way she is. It may sound strange, but through the marriage break-down she kept me sane because I was so caught up in everything that was happening to her I did not have time to feel sorry for myself or let myself get down. I just had to deal with it.

One of the "nicest" things my eldest said, when DD2 was first diagnosed, was that she was 'glad' that she had Sotos and wouldn't want to change her because having Sotos has made her the person she is, and if she didn't have it, then she wouldn't be who she was (and is now).

Hope that helps and congratulations.

TeeCee · 29/01/2007 12:01

Thanks everyone
I didn't mean to out myself so soon tbh (am only 6 weeks) but I'm RUBBISH at keeping things quiet, I wear my heart on my sleeve far too much to keep my own secrets!

Thanks for that info JimJams. I'll look into that.

Fio - when are you due?

Oh and DP has already started touching my belly and been lovely! What a turn around!
What a relief.

lou33 · 29/01/2007 12:10

fio is pg too?!!!

FioFio · 29/01/2007 14:23

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FioFio · 29/01/2007 14:24

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lou33 · 29/01/2007 14:48

oh congrats fio!

all these babies!

TeeCee · 29/01/2007 16:57

LOL Fio! Esp at the crap xmas present thing

Went to the the GP today. I already knew my due date thanks to Edisvold though! 23 Sept. So pleased I won't be having another baby in December!

Sorry you're feeling so tired today Fio. have to say that, don't know if it's in my heasd, I'm only 6 weeks fgs, but feel a bit more tired than usual and also been craving milk and lucozade (not int he same glass!) which are the 2 things I craved in my other pregnancies. Thought it was a bit early to be feeling tired and having cravings. God help us aye!

wannaBeWhateverIWannaBe · 29/01/2007 20:47

just crashing, congrats tc .

hope you're feeling better soon fio, I always found ginger biscuits good for sickness, also chinese food was the only food that didn't make me ill in first trimestr,, because it also contains ginger which has a settling effect.

eidsvold · 29/01/2007 23:16

TC - i found I was more tired and being sick much earlier this time round compared with the other two.

MegaLegs · 30/01/2007 10:23

Congrats TeeCee and Fio

Just wa nted to add another positive experience. I have four boys and my youngest (19 months) has SN (hypotonia and GDD). He is adored by his three big (7,5 and 3) brothers who usually do too much for him. He has just started crawling and it's such a joy to see him crawl across the room to join in a bundle or just to watch one of their games.

My older three cope brilliantly with the extra attention DS4 gets and my 3 year old loves coming to the CDC to play with the cool toys.

Whilst DS4 is still a baby things aren't too complicated but we'll have to wait and see what the future holds.

TeeCee · 30/01/2007 10:55

Mmmmmm, at work today and just spent last 10 minutes in the loo trying to be sick quietly!
Great, here we go. I'll suffer it gladly though if it means that it's all ok, ykwim.

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