So how are the holidays going so far?

[magso]

Ds broke up from school tueday lunch time, but had 2 strike days off last week too ( + sports day and end of term meetings etc), so it feels like the holidays started last week. I had a lot of things lined up but feel like I'm flagging already! I was hoping ds ( who is very flitty and lost without school) would be able to entertain himself for longer this year (the odd minute or so!). Hows it going for everyone else?

Hols not too bad for us, although DS1 getting a bit cheesed off at all of DS2's hospital appointments. Still it's his turn next week as he gets his tonsills out!

We braved a family day out to Drayton Manor yesterday and actually had a lovely day. They seem quite geared to children/ teens with special needs, and they had express passes to all the rides. We didn't need them as not the type of SN that DS2 has but seemed to work really well.

I was dreading it, but was actually what we all needed and had a fab day!

jimjams and tclanger - hope you are recovering! Shite timing!

Ow! JJ and Tclanger! Hope you have both have a chiropractor/ osteopath/physio handy!! DH was on sticks (with strict instructions to do nothing for 2 weeks) a few weeks ago after a particularly rigorous day out with ds. Its those impulsive sudden shock loading of oversized child at fragile adult spine/neck that is so dangerous!

I have a chiropractor but really can't afford him this month. The muscles in my lower back have gone into spasm. It is a PITA.

Ouch! bad back what a nightmare!

Magso - yes I did manage to get his finger out of DVD and it only took half a bottle of washing up liquid!

I'm on a bit of a high today. Found out NAS have booked a local soft play for 3 hours a week (over 2 sessions). Last year ds found it so stressful. Every session I had to physically "help him" through the door, hands over ears etc. After half an hour he would start to play. Well today he sat with me for 10 mins just looking then went to play with his sister. Found the Noddy car and demanded "money"

For once it wasn't my child opening the emergency exits, throwing things etc.

Just made me realise how far he has come in the past year, especially in receptive and expressive language terms. Proud mummy moment!

Well 2 weeks in and I have to say (touch wood), so far much to my surprise, not only has it been a breeze, but actually quite fun.

We have found a new park, which is:

A) less than 5 minutes walk away
B) fully fenced with only 1 entrance/exit gate
C) empty a lot of the time
D) beside a wildlife/nature trail which DS2 pushchair can fit down

What a pleasure it is, to sit on a swing and let DS1 run around and do what he wants, without us chasing (red faced and out of breath) 3 foot behind him constantly.

We have also got him a crelling harness and he has been very responsive to walking, with only a hand full of drops to the floor refusals per journey (admittedly we have carried his Mac Major in the bottom of DS2's pushchair just incase, but I think we are going to brave the next outing without it).

It's quite funny actually, as he is very weary of the reins being behind him and insists we hold his hand, whereas he is normally doing everything possible to escape this.

We have also had a success full trip to donkey riding, with DS1 actually holding onto the saddle for the first time ever (albeit briefly, before he decided the rubber ring he was given, was actually the donkeys steering wheel lol).

Everything is going so well, we have even decided to brave going to a family wedding on Saturday (DS1 in a church, not sure what we are thinking ).

I left DH with both children on Friday for 4 hours (which is not all that unusual) whilst I had my hair done and he wasn't sat rocking in a corner when I returned (which is unusual) and the house didn't look like it had had 2,000 rioting football hooligans from opposing teams in for afternoon tea (which is very unusual).

I even had a lovely shopping trip into town with DS1 yesterday to buy a new outfit, shoes, etc. I normally avoid this like the plague as I spend most of the time rebuilding shelves and racks of clothes that DS1 likes to drag over as he passes in his major (first rule I make when I become PM is that all aisles in shops have to be at least 3 times as wide as DS1's arm span!).

So in summary, we have been having such a wonderful time I though I would share it all with you here, also so I could have a reference point, i.e where are those famous last words again? ahhhh, here they are on mumsnet!

Hope everyone else is coping without too much post holiday counselling being required, so far.

How are the hols going?

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

ok?

Sorry to hear that Hecate and this will be of absolutely no consolation to you, but I read your blog yesterday afternoon and laughed so much that DH was going to call the men in white coats for me.

It seemed almost every other line, I was thinking - yep I know that feeling and wow, I/we are not the only ones who get that!

I shall definately be a regular visitor, if thats ok.

Thank you so much, that's really kind of you to say so. And it's fine, of course! (not a lot of work will be done while the kids are off school though, but don't give up on me! )

Well my dp's girl has turned out to be crap- she;s great when she gets here, but routinely cancels half an hour before she's due to turn up. I have someone else drafted in this week who has been great and is helpful but is back to her regular job next week .

SS STILL haven't told me how many hours of dp's they're paying so it's difficult to know how much help to employ anyway (not that there's much choice given that there is no-one to replace the frequent no-show)

So this week has been good but am dreading the rest. I am meant to be meeting up with 2 other families next week (college friends and their 3 kids, then MB and her kids) but without help I don't see how I am going to do it. Have been pondering a solution to that all morning. None reached yet.I suspect I'll have to cancel.

Well we still aren't managing to venture far from the house & ds2 still wants me in the garden with him at all times.
It means that i've got a sun tan & done soem gardening but the inside of the house is a complete mess.
We have never had any form of respite or outside support, but thinking maybe i should ask if only for ds1's sake he really ahs missed out on so much this holiday because of ds2.

I've been on mn a while but have name changed because ds1 (the nt one) thinks its funny to tell everyone in rl my mn name.
Wouldn't care but we live in a v small town & I don't want every tom, dick & harry knowing all my business.

I hear you Hecate. Or at least I would if it wasn't for all the flaming screaming going on here.

I've also caved and bought a small trampoline. It means I have to walk around it all the time and watch for DS2 climbing on it, but it helps DS1 burn off some of his energy and I'm less worried about DS2 getting in the way now he's a lot more steady and strong. It doesn't keep DS1 from being super-sensory, though. He can not keep his mouth and feet to himself and keeps biting DS2's feet and forbidding him from playing with any of his toys or looking at any of his books. DS2 has had enough and has started taunting him and smacking him one in return, which doesn't make life any easier for anyone, though I really can't say I blame him.

One month and counting...