The Matrix - Re-Evolution!!

Memory_Girl

The article in WO is a bit "vanilla" really - but hey ho!!! I shall bank their cheque regardless. If I want control of what is written I need to write it myself don't I?

I didn't fit in at Secondary School either - not helped by discovering Mind Mapping and aceing my exams, but I was working and have loads of fun at a local theatre and was dating a Stage Manager who was 7 years older than I was (impossible glamorous when you are 17 LOL). Never quite gelled - and know I know why ...................I'm nuts LOL

MG

Triciaxx

Memory_Girl wrote: »

the tai-chi class is overrun with trendy pensioners
MG

That would be me, then! Sorry about that. :rotfl:

Seriously, though, I have a DGS with Aspergers and it can take a long while to get a diagnosis and help so I would not delay.

He ended up at a secondary school with a special unit and he could choose when and how he integrated in the main school. He is now, at 14, leading the class in all 'logical' subjects and only visits the unit rarely, but still has problems with social interactions with his peers. Getting him diagnosed and statemented has given them a lot of help in many ways.

I hate the fact that you have to give a label to a person in order to get help. We are all 'on the spectrum' in one way or another and I do feel this should be acknowledged as an aspect of being human.

Don't forget that he would be in a much worse state if he didn't have a secure home life and the confidence you give him in his abilities.

Horace

Hi all

I was reading MSE last night and read about MG's antics with bogus bailiff - now I cannot get that ruddy whimaway song out of my head:mad:

I now have new hair - I went to the hairdressers this morning for a cut and colour and my lovely hairdresser gave me a massive discount so instead of me paying £120 - he charged me £60 having first asked his new boss Adee Phelan if that was ok.:cool: I must admit the new hair salon in The Cube in Birmingham is rather swanky but it is clean and bright - there are some doors hanging on the wall that have been mirrored and these doors came from the House of Commons - the lovely wooden tables where clients sit to have their hair cut are old desks with and the doors on the bookcase part of the desk have been removed and replaced with mirrors. These lovely old desks also came from the House of Commons. One thing that I did see in there was the clock that Adee Phelan picked up from the house he was staying in when he appeared on The Secret Millionaire:D I got asked out by my hairdresser Sean too - calm down ladies, he is gay and invited me out with his chum Mark who is also gay (Mark also works in the Salon)...why are all the dishy guys gay? Can you answer me that?

I was a bit naughty and had lunch in town - I went to a little cafe that I know that sells the most delicious homemade cake and the most divine fresh coffee - so a double shot latte, slice of carrot cake and ciabatta with black forest ham & sundried tomato for me:D. I have decided that as I have money left from the hair that hasn't been used for petrol, that I will put that in my credit union account, I know that it is what mum would want me to do.

Now I have had my hair done I feel a million miles better and it has given me a huge boost which should put me in good stead for tomorrow morning (need to be up at the ungodly hour of 5am) and be in town for 6.45am:eek:

Groatie - thanks for the bread tips for Mosky - I also found my Remoska Cookery Book and have discovered a huge amount of food that I can bake/cook in it - I only have the standard sized one.

MG - talking about Aspergers - there is a lad that I know of in my area called Louis Barnett - Louis set up his chocolate company when he was 12 years' old. I know that his chocolate is sold in some supermarkets and I have seen it in Selfridges before now - the company is Chokolit. I know that when I was growing up not much was known about Aspergers but I feel sure that one of my chums had it, he was incredibly bright but he couldnt socialise with people that well (he was fine with adults and with me because we had known each other since primary school) - mostly I think the other kids were afraid of him because he was so clever, unfortunately his parents and the school didnt particularly support him. I know that he quit school as soon as he had finished his O Levels and went and got a job with the Post Office, it is such a shame because he could have gone to University.

Aesop

Triciaxx wrote: »

I hate the fact that you have to give a label to a person in order to get help. We are all 'on the spectrum' in one way or another and I do feel this should be acknowledged as an aspect of being human.

Don't forget that he would be in a much worse state if he didn't have a secure home life and the confidence you give him in his abilities.

Totally agree with this! I took the test and appear somewhere on the spectrum and notice that DH and DS both have OCD tendencies. DH won't take the test but I can guarantee he will appear somewhere on the spectrum.

DS could be the next Bill Gates or even solve World Peace! but he needs to be given the tools to get there, so let's hope the school can help.

thriftyscotslass

Wtg to nice haircuts and nights out Horace :beer:.

Just back from town with my own ds MG and have been thinking. Glad to hear the school is listening and taking steps. However, it is important to get as much support as you can for ds1 prior to 16 as is possible. This is because he will come under children's services where the budget is still reasonably healthy. Once you are into the realms of adult services it is well-documented that it is like "falling off a cliff" - the support services just melt away. Given the current climate, this likely to get worse not better.

This has certainly been our experience, trying to get support for our ds has been like trying to get blood out a stone.

What about athletics or gymnastics for your ds. Athletics was the only sport that my ds liked - he loathed team and contact sports but excelled at running.

Memory_Girl

Had a response form AF after I told them abut WO

"Hi MG

Thanks for your email and your support. I'm sure you are very aware
just how important that kind of feedback in a National magazine could
be for us. I will definitely check out the website and look forward to
the article and I sincerely hope that you continue to use us and that
we can keep 'coming up with the goods'.

Good luck with the next venture, I too have a houseful of kids and
cupboards full of Approved Food fare.

Kindest regards

Julian Watts
Commercial Manager"

How nice that they took the time to say thank-you - my response was:


"In that case I invite you to my "paying off the Mortgage Party" in three years time

................Mmmmm!! Of course we will be looking for "mates rates" on the catering :rotfl:.

Thanks for saying thanks - you will be amazed how many companies have lost the personal touch - yours I am hoping will go from strength to strength during this damned recession

MG"

clairewop

Good afternoon

Sorry to hear about DS1 MG, hope you get it sorted

Well I am now the proud owner of (new to me) purple metallic DR Martains very mse free

clairewop

aww thats lovely MG, the staff at AF seem to be very down to earth,

Bitsy_Beans

MG keep pushing for you DS. budgets etc do have an influence on what help gets offered. If the original analysis was inconclusive maybe now he's older it will be more clear. My DS has ASD (he's not got Aspergers because he has language delays etc) but he at 6 years old misinterprets other people's intentions etc, possibly your DS is doing the same. He also used to prefer the company of adults as they were more willing and able to bridge the gap of sociability better than his peers. I hope they can help your young man xxx

Marru hope things have gone OK today xxx

Northern_Lassy

Hello MG, I hope you don't mind me dropping by but reading your posts about your lovely boy brought tears to my eyes x
My DS had an awful time at primary school, bullied and excluded by his peers and often mocked by his teachers.
By the time he was 9 he was starting to exhibit signs of real stress and his behaviour was anxiety ridden and scary. It was only when I started to work at the school myself that I saw how difficult life really was for him there. I fought tooth and nail to get him assessed by the ed psych who concluded that he had the intellect of an 18 year old, and he was also dyspraxic with Aspergers tendencies.
I actually moved him to a tiny little catholic school in the back of beyond where his teacher (who had a similar son herself) gradually put him back together and relished the challenge of teaching him. She was really firm with the other boys and more or less ordered them to play together and subtly played up his strengths in class.

I was talking to him the other day about his experiences and he said that the thing which helped him the most was that we told him what his condition was called, and explained that his brain functioned differently which made it hard for him to do some things but also gave him massive intellectual advantages. He concluded that he would rather be the way he is!
The other thing he said was that he is glad his home life is very calm and that he is never condemned for the things he can't do and always praised for those he can. Without a firm diagnosis I don't think that any of us would have had the clarity to tackle his difficulties as effectively as we have.
Fast forward to now, he is 15 and worked really hard to gain a place at Grammar school where he is thriving amongst a peer group who are all a little different and largely live and let live.
The most wonderful thing that your son has is you, your loving, stable, creative and accepting home will ensure that he will be ok. It may take time for him to find his feet but I bet that he will gradually win his classmates over as he sounds wonderful x
Sorry about the long post but I remember being in your shoes about 6 years ago, I know how it hurts, lots of love x