Primary school Auties: into 2020! - thread 4

[LightTripper]

This is the continuation of the thread for parents and carers of autistic children in Early Years and KS1. Most of us are parents of children in Reception or Year 1, but all welcome!

Here are the links to the previous threads:

Thread 1: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/3080753-DS-with-ASD-starting-school-Sept-2018-I-am-feeling-overwhelmed

Thread 2: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/3451020-Reception-auties-2018-19-thread-2

Thread 3: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/special_needs/3628263-Auties-transition-to-Year-1-thread-3

Just stumbled across this too
autisticnotweird.com/christmas/

Oh that's good news Lottie!! How is he feeling? Is he still going to have to rest a lot? Presumably? I hope he's feeling properly better for Christmas. Did you know he might be home yesterday or was it a total surprise?

I love ANW I think Chris is so sensible and explains things beautifully clearly. I hadn't spotted that Christmas article before.

danni congratulations on another great week on WW. You are on fire! 🔥

I totally understand about school being respite for you and I don’t think you’re being pathetic at all. Plus, given the week that it is, I’m sure you had a lot planned before the end of term. I hope you can have at least a semi relaxing day tomorrow.

liv I hope ds is ok and doesn’t have an ear infection.

little it’s really tough when their sleep is poor over a sustained period. I hope you can get some extra rest here and there.

Lottie brilliant that dh is back home, what a lovely surprise!

The holidays started slightly early for us. Ds didn’t come to church this morning. I’m not surprised really as he grumbled all the way up the road to school because it’s ‘so far’ (it isn’t) and it was chilly so he wouldn’t have been keen to go out again. He left assembly after about 20 mins this afternoon and we took him home early. Now at least he can recuperate, get over his cold, fatten up a bit and relax for a while.

His sleep has been better over the last 4-5 days thank goodness. Apart from one night where he woke for a short time about 11pm, he’s slept through until about 5ish and I’m sleeping better too. He’s still off the melatonin, has been for some time as it seems to make little difference to him.

Light I agree, Chris Bonello seems lovely. How is your dd doing this week?

She's good open! Quite hyper. Bedtimes not the best but OK. She's just really excited about Christmas I think. But seems to be enjoying herself. I have totally failed to follow up with the Early Bird person about the Christmas schedule so we've made our own and DD has been checking it a bit I think to see what is going on, so maybe that helps.

Glad you're sleeping better and that your DS is home: is that the end of term for him now? A bit of relaxation and fattening up is on the cards for all of us I hope (hahaha she says with 2 young children, soooo not going to happen (already got snot vomited over me by DS at 4am today so that is probably a precursor of things to come ... but a Mum can dream!!))

Yes, ds’ school broke up today.

Ugh to the snot vomit! But glad dd is enjoying herself and finding the visual calendar useful.

I'm exhausted. We spent most of the day at the hospital. DS woke up unable to walk properly - this is the 4th time this has happened so I was perhaps a bit calmer about it than you might imagine! It's something called 'irritable hip' which is a post - viral infection. It's seems so typical that we were just getting over noro virus and then got struck down again. His condition has improved over the course of the day but he is now walking as though he was drunk but declaring himself all better (he wants to go to the school party tomorrow)

And Danni 'totally get it about school as respite. I'm also stressing about work as I missed an important meeting today and Christmas lunch. After tomorrow I'm on leave until 7th Jan - hoping not to think about work at all

Oh dimples you must have been terrified the first time that happened. I’ve never heard of it. Will your ds have to miss the party?

I’m sorry you missed your meeting and lunch but glad ds is on the mend.

Open yes, first time it happened (a couple of years ago) I was terrified imagining all sorts and dashed to A&E. I hadn’t hear of it before then and they do take it v seriously as the symptoms are the same for some nasty conditions like septic arthritis. DS seemed to enjoy our outing though especially when a nurse gave him a selection box when we were leaving. I have suggested to him that if he doesn’t go to school (which he won’t be) that we go and see Frozen 2 - he is happier about this plan.

Frozen 2 sounds fun, I hope you both enjoy it

Frozen 2 is great ... have I droned on about the neurodiversity sub-plot here yet? I read about it after seeing Frozen but I think Frozen 2 fits it pretty beautifully too... When you think about it Elsa has a lot of autistic characteristics (masking, avoiding people to not make mistakes/be "found out, finding it difficult to accept help, finding strength in understanding herself and finding her community, etc.) Arguably a bit of a sensory seeker too, with all those ice explosions and running around in the cold with no coat on

parade.com/947122/tinadonvito/frozen-2-children-with-disabilities/
www.npr.org/2019/01/22/686690655/frozen-let-it-go-disabilities-american-anthem?t=1576759597794
www.autismsupportnetwork.com/news/autistics-reflection-disney-frozen-elsa-3251111

We’re into the witching hour here... ds tired and cranky and whining about everything 🙄

Light I think that song and plot line resonates with many different groups of people, autistics included.

I hope the last days of school are going well for those still hanging in there.

Ds has also finally relented and watched a Christmas film and listened to a Christmas song. So we now have watched Elf several times and listened to Mariah a lot

That sounds like fun Open. Light unfortunately we did not get to see Frozen 2 as the diarrhoea has recurred. Poor DS he has lost so much weight (and he is a skinny kid). He is v hungry but as soon as he eats is ill again. I had booked tomorrow off work to have some child free time, get presents wrapped etc. I'm hoping we don't spend half the day in the bathroom.

Oh dimples, poor you and ds. I hope he recovers soon and you are both well for Christmas. Ds is the same, very slim and he lost a fair bit of weight last week. I’m hoping he’ll gain it back over the holidays.

Another decent night here, ds slept until 5am. He is so snotty today though, ugh. He is currently watching Mr Bean, a recently discovered favourite. Only the one episode though, on repeat 😂

That’s the animated Mr Bean!

Oh no dimples - hope today is going OK and DS is on the mend.

I wrapped stocking fillers a couple of nights ago but regretted it as it meant I went to be late. Actually got a semi-decent night's sleep last night (DS still in with me and coughing/upset, but at least didn't actually need changing or anything in the middle of the night!) so feel a bit more human today. Last day of work (other than some bits and bobs). Loads to finish off so obviously I am on here instead of doing it....

Ds broke up at 1.30pm today, that's him off now until the 7th jan, send help

I've just done some homework with him while we wait for tea to cook, 1 less, 1 more than from 0-20 & we did 'more and fewer' he had to tell me which set had more or fewer with some of those little plastic counters. He's got the idea with both and they are both ELG's so I can mark those off now at least.

Although the yr 1 curriculum is 1 more or 1 less than 100 anyway he's not even nearly there yet so won't concentrate on that for now.

Hope ds is ok dimples.

Glad you had a better sleep light.

Open I have visions of your ds sat wrapped in a blanket watching the adult mr bean

It's been absolutely chucking it down here today and when we got out the car ds said who is chucking the water down mum, anyway after questioning him a bit..... he thought people sit on the clouds pouring water from buckets 😆 crackers.

Hello to anyone I've missed.

Lottie glad your Dh is ok and home

Light hooray to finishing work. I hope ds has a good night tonight 🤞

danni you’ve got this! It’s a busy couple of weeks and will pass quickly. What are your plans for Christmas Day?

I agree, best not to worry too much about the yr1 goals. It’s great he’s ticking off ELGs though.

Ds has been back to doing work at home the last couple of days but he’s refusing to read from the Biff & Kipper books and insisting on reading (blending) some captions I printed from the letters & sounds website. Think I’m going to have to print some more off. What a pain...

Just a quick one as have sleepy but pukey DD on me?

What a relief to have your DH home Lottie!

First time must have been scary dimples hope you both have a speedy recovery.

Fingers crossed for another ok night light.

Open we love the animated Mr Bean too

Danni we have the same finishing time and start date. We can do this!!

We've kicked off the holidays with a tonsillitis and vomiting bug combo. Nice! Hoping it's not the flu

Little I’m sorry ds is poorly, I hope she’s better in time for Christmas.

Sorry, autocorrect always wants to change dd to ds!

I was allowed to watch Arthur Christmas this morning without being told to turn it off. Followed by The Snowman and now Father Christmas. Ds has been half watching them all (he’s been awake since 5am). It’s nice to be able to branch out a bit

Little hope DD is better soon. DS is better now and we made it in to town today (with DS greeting everyone we passed), saw Frozen 2 and even got his hair cut. light during the film I was thinking about your comments re Elsa - totally see where you’re coming from.

Yesterday I had a v useful phone consultation with CAMHS re DS’s hair pulling. The woman I spoke to expressed great surprise that he had not been assessed for autism - finally someone gets it! To my amazement a follow up letter arrived today with a February appointment - a Christmas miracle!