Born to be Different

[SaguaroBlossom]

New programme on Channel 4, Tuesday at nine o'clock. Can't wait to see how they're all doing.

Extraordinary families. So lovely to see them all grown up.

Zoe for HG

Zoe is such an amazing soul.

Aaaw, seems a bit cruel to encourage Zoe to apply for head girl & voter her to win but hopefully she'll get as much out being deputy.

It's really woken me up, I've been down and struggling with 2 perfectly healthy kids under 3... I've got nothing to complain about. What AMAZING families !!!

William looks to be doing really well

His sister is a sweetheart

I think it is Nathan and his family who aren't taking part any longer. I hope he is doing well. I've watched every series and really admire the families for being involved in what is a very 'warts and all' documentary.

Brilliant programme. I can't believe Shelbie is still going! Definitely Nathan who's dropped out, the boy with Down's Syndrome.

I adore Zoe - such a bright, cheerful star!

I watched this programme when my eldest was a new born and it's always held a special place in my heart. What lovely children and such devoted parents, tbh I don't know how they do it. it makes my problems seem so trivial.....

Oh, fgs, I can not watch this program without a bottle of wine and a box of tissues.

Doesn't help that I visited a prospective school for DS2, today because we will most definitely not be doing the secondary applications merry-go-round, this time next year.

FeelItInMyToes I first watched it when I was pregnant with DS1, with absolutely no idea that he'd be different, himself.

Zoe will go far. She has so much spark.

It's such a lovely programme, I wonder how long we'll be able to follow them for, and if there will ever be a second series.

The children are all so bright and completely charming. Their parents are also fucking fantastic and such brilliant advocates for their DC. I've been watching this show since I was a fairly young child and it really inspired me to do a lot of the work I do :) So happy there's a new series.

Love the families, but feel angry for Zoe. If she wants to be a barrister,,her school should be encouraging her, not letting her down. Psychology French and Law A levels? Have they never heard of facilitating subjects?

Another fan of the show, I have a DC with SN who was born at the same time so it's very dear to me. I haven't watched it yet as DH wants to watch it with me (and can mop up my tears).

It must be so interesting for the families to watch this back. We were filmed for a documentary dealing with a decision we faced for the DCs' health, and I remember wondering at the time if we would look back in years to come and still make the same decision. I think we would but I'm definitely more able to "see the other side" and understand a lot more why other families made the opposite decision. I suppose we have all just grown up

I haven't been able to watch it for years. My daughter is 16 (are they 14 in the program) and at the severe/complex end and I've found it difficult to watch but it's really nice to know William is doing so well. I'm really pleased Shelbie has been so strong too, but her mum is made of strong stuff - so I'm not surprised :)

We were asked to take part in something too purple, we were torn but decided not to but I have a very complicated extended family and it was partly to do with that. I think the families have been very brave tbh, they already 'public property' from a sense that you have so many professionals involved and people know so much about you but then to be filmed and have further scrutiny must be really quite hard. My daughter is extremely vulnerable but I do think it can make us as parents vulnerable too.

I watched this for the first time last night having previously avoided because I thought it might be voyeuristic. Goodness what completely awesome families.

Watching this now, in tears watching the start before they even go into the stories. I've watched it from the start and have loved watching the children grow up.

Williams mum was on here last time the programme aired, she was just as lovely as she appears onscreen. Incase you're reading this, what an amazing young man William has become.

Owllady I totally agree. Parents judge each other so much anyway but having DC with SN seems to make it open season, sadly.

I remember William's mum, she was lovely. I think sometimes people forget parents of SN DC are actually real people just (for the most) just getting on with it and trying their best.

Parents are vulnerable and should be treated like real people. I think a lot of people just think we fall into either of these two camps -

1. saintly, eternally patient and strong types (you know, comments like "I don't know how you do it", my favourite - "God gave the children a strong enough mother to cope" "I couldn't do it")

1. just lax parents that don't discipline our naughty children or look for labels ("it's nothing a smack wouldn't cure", "in my day we didn't have none of this ADHD or autism stuff").

A lot of people just don't have any insight at all and just assume these stereotypes. It's good to see programmes showing the realities, both for children and parents.

Excited this isn't the first series, I think we are on about series five.

My child was on tv and I would never do anything on television again. The abuse from adults towards a child was unjustifiable.

I think Excited meant if another series would be made following different families.

Very much enjoyed seeing them all growing up so well and happy. I noticed William's mother with a walking stick and remembered she also had problems too. I think she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis a while since but she seems to be managing ok. All amazing families.

Yes, other families Going