Take two did not go a lot better than take one. The GP was insistent that:
*He cannot refer without a school report
*The fact she masks at school would not stop the school noticing it
*That if it's not something that shows at school then it's a home problem
*That there was nothing he could do for me.
I pressed and pressed and got a mental health referral that I am not sure is the right thing and has a long waiting list.
I went to the school and asked for a report. Her class teacher is lovely but has noticed nothing and has mentioned that she can't report on what she doesn't see. My issue with this is that unless you were specifically autism trained you probably wouldn't see - because she masks.
We are hoping to have a meeting at the school next week to go through some stuff when I haven't got kids with me on the school runs.
It feels a bit helpless. The GP say I need the school. The school say they don't see it. Maybe a referral can be made with a report that doesn't mention anything but maybe rules out other stuff.
The panorama documentary on 'kids in crisis' was harrowing. The low that a child has to reach before they are helped in crazy and just horrific. Children are being failed all over the place.
S has been struggling before school, small things trigger a meltdown and she often resists getting into the car. She manages once we are driving and always appears ok going in but I feel like she reaches the point where she feels she has no choice and switches her mask on.
She started Karate but hasn't made many sessions because she has said that instead she'd like to be alone after school, she retreats to her room with the curtains closed and her bubble tube on to chill out. It's amazing that she knows she needs this and can do it for herself. I have a feeling that karate won't last though. I'm hoping we can find a weekend midday one maybe so that she doesn't have to manage it after a full school day.
Hope to update more positively soon,
Mama S
Tuesday 25 September 2018
Saturday 18 August 2018
Starting somewhere...
So, I've been trying to work out where to start with this blog. There are so many things I want to write about, ideas for posts and topics to cover but I feel like this all need an introduction. To me, to us, the what this whole blog is about. So,
I am S, I am 30 years old and I have four wonderful small people, a dog, a cat and two rabbits. I drink a lot of coffee and I really like biscuits. I am writing this blog because of Small Person 3, but really it is about all of us, so it seems only sensible to start by meeting the family...
Small Person 3 is on the autistic spectrum. Or at least we believe she is. We are pre-diagnosis, pre-most things at the moment actually. Having been recently completely dismissed by an ignorant GP we are currently going it alone. I have plans to visit our new GP in the next few weeks in the hope he will take me seriously. Small Person 3 has always been different to her sisters, sometimes in obvious ways and sometimes in ways maybe only a parent could discern. This has never bothered me but over the last few months it's becoming clearer that it bothers her and that family life needs adapting to make things easier for her. This blog is our journey, from the start, learning about neuro-diversity and life.
Small Person 1 is not so small these days. At 10 she is growing up fast. She gets things. She sees things. I see her looking at me sometimes and I know she understands. She'll appear with a cup of tea when I need it most. She is smart, a book-lover, a gamer girl, an introvert and she reminds me most of me - this is both awesome and a little terrifying. She likes purple and pink and turquoise and unicorns. She prefers animals to people and has an incredible stuffed toy collection that she insists on sharing her bed with.
Small Person 2 is nearly 9. Bubbly and bouncy she loves gymnastics, singing, running and creating things. She makes us all laugh with her crazy ways and sense of humour. She is amazing with the younger two, super patient and she loves playing with them. She seeks the company of others more often than her older sister and loves to talk, and talk and talk! She likes flamingos, pink, glitter and anything sparkly.
Small Person 3 has just turned 5. She is funny, loud, loves singing and loves cuddles. She loves learning about things and recalling facts about what she knows. She has an infectious laugh and magnetic personality. In a room full of people she will choose someone and bond with them. She seems to have an innate sense of who will 'get' her and she finds them and becomes their friend for life. She likes princesses and tiaras, her favourite colour is yellow but she'll also tell you that she loves all the colours of the rainbow.
Small Person 4 is 3.5 She may be the Smallest but she makes sure she is heard. She is fiesty, confident and chatty. She loves dinosaurs and her favourite colours are red and blue. Her cute voice, blonde hair and blue eyes make her look innocent and sweet but don't be fooled. She knows what she wants and she knows how to get it. She has mastered the art of getting her big sisters on her side. She loves ice lollies and stealing the end of my lattes.
Phew, now the first post panic can end. I've started. I'm going to work on posting about some of our experiences so far and hopefully add some info about the useful things we have found and tried.
Wish me luck, S
I am S, I am 30 years old and I have four wonderful small people, a dog, a cat and two rabbits. I drink a lot of coffee and I really like biscuits. I am writing this blog because of Small Person 3, but really it is about all of us, so it seems only sensible to start by meeting the family...
Small Person 3 is on the autistic spectrum. Or at least we believe she is. We are pre-diagnosis, pre-most things at the moment actually. Having been recently completely dismissed by an ignorant GP we are currently going it alone. I have plans to visit our new GP in the next few weeks in the hope he will take me seriously. Small Person 3 has always been different to her sisters, sometimes in obvious ways and sometimes in ways maybe only a parent could discern. This has never bothered me but over the last few months it's becoming clearer that it bothers her and that family life needs adapting to make things easier for her. This blog is our journey, from the start, learning about neuro-diversity and life.
Small Person 1 is not so small these days. At 10 she is growing up fast. She gets things. She sees things. I see her looking at me sometimes and I know she understands. She'll appear with a cup of tea when I need it most. She is smart, a book-lover, a gamer girl, an introvert and she reminds me most of me - this is both awesome and a little terrifying. She likes purple and pink and turquoise and unicorns. She prefers animals to people and has an incredible stuffed toy collection that she insists on sharing her bed with.
Small Person 2 is nearly 9. Bubbly and bouncy she loves gymnastics, singing, running and creating things. She makes us all laugh with her crazy ways and sense of humour. She is amazing with the younger two, super patient and she loves playing with them. She seeks the company of others more often than her older sister and loves to talk, and talk and talk! She likes flamingos, pink, glitter and anything sparkly.
Small Person 3 has just turned 5. She is funny, loud, loves singing and loves cuddles. She loves learning about things and recalling facts about what she knows. She has an infectious laugh and magnetic personality. In a room full of people she will choose someone and bond with them. She seems to have an innate sense of who will 'get' her and she finds them and becomes their friend for life. She likes princesses and tiaras, her favourite colour is yellow but she'll also tell you that she loves all the colours of the rainbow.
Small Person 4 is 3.5 She may be the Smallest but she makes sure she is heard. She is fiesty, confident and chatty. She loves dinosaurs and her favourite colours are red and blue. Her cute voice, blonde hair and blue eyes make her look innocent and sweet but don't be fooled. She knows what she wants and she knows how to get it. She has mastered the art of getting her big sisters on her side. She loves ice lollies and stealing the end of my lattes.
Phew, now the first post panic can end. I've started. I'm going to work on posting about some of our experiences so far and hopefully add some info about the useful things we have found and tried.
Wish me luck, S
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