Steps to FIRE

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Better to have 37p than nothing......

earthgirl

MyBestJumper wrote: »

37p interest earned so far - I'll be rich!!!!!!! (In about 1000 years :rotfl::rotfl:)

:rotfl: Just remember me when you are rolling in it!

MyBestJumper

Busy and cheap few days. Walk in the woods yesterday with one of DS2's new friends followed by free bonfire with free food last night. Today we went to an art gallery (free but with a bit of a drive).

Weird week otherwise. I've had a lot of cancelled lessons this week and in fact have only earned £100. Downside of self-employment. Also had an odd result from a routine test so waiting for a hospital appt with possible biopsy. Had a really strange dream last night too where my usually very reserved MIL was having a real go at me. All will be well I suppose.

DS2 also having a really tough time settling into school. The head has agreed to let us just send him 3 days a week until Christmas just to see if a slower transition helps him. I'm very worried about him actually. There's something no quite okay I don't think that I can't put my finger on. I've thought this for quite a while now

earthgirl

MyBestJumper wrote: »

DS2 also having a really tough time settling into school. The head has agreed to let us just send him 3 days a week until Christmas just to see if a slower transition helps him. I'm very worried about him actually. There's something no quite okay I don't think that I can't put my finger on. I've thought this for quite a while now

Hi MBJ, try not to worry about ds2, I really feel for you - it's so tough for parents as well. Is it something the additional needs co-ordinator (or equivalent down there) would help with?

I've been doing a bit of home learning with ds1 and have found this website has loads of games and activities on all areas of the curriculum (not just maths):

http://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/5-7-years/counting

I'm not primary trained, but I think its helpful.

Anyway, thinking of you and sure you'll all work through it together.

Take care x

earthgirl

MyBestJumper wrote: »

Busy and cheap few days.

Yey to busy and cheap! I can only manage cheap OR busy!

MyBestJumper

Thanks Earthy,

I'm not worried about him academically as he seems to be pretty bright in that regard especially with numbers. For example he fully understands the concept of multiplication and knows a lot of his times tables, he can do quite complex addition and subtraction mentally and knows loads and loads of facts. Has a great memory for numbers too, ie will remember the registration number of a vehicle for several days if it's important to him for example.

What he can't manage is change and he has a very long memory for everything I've ever got wrong ever. He was asking recently why I left him at nursery sometimes when he was crying (he left in November 2013).

He also can't manage really trivial set-backs. We had to leave a birthday party a couple of weeks ago as his balloon popped and a replacement In exactly the same colour and design just wasn't enough to calm him down. He can't cope with loud noises, with labels on his clothes, the bath is too hot at just above tepid, he's often so wired he's unable to sleep and the more exhausted he becomes the less he sleeps ad the more irrational he becomes.

And yet when things are going well, which up into starting school was definitely more often than not, he's totally ace. Loving, thoughtful, funny.

I'm watching for a book from the library called something like The Highly Sensitive Child. Online research has pointed towards this perhaps something being something it would be useful to explore.

MyBestJumper

Sorry for all the typos. My phone screen is so badly cracked I can hardly see what I'm writing!

MyBestJumper

I know btw that lots of children have lots of odd little quirks it's just there seems to be quite a lot with him. It's hard to watch him completely breaking down over the colour of the plate his tea's being served on while his 2 year old brother looks on confused and not question whether everything is okay.

Sorry for the ramble

Petal88

MyBestJumper wrote: »

Thanks Earthy,

I'm not worried about him academically as he seems to be pretty bright in that regard especially with numbers. For example he fully understands the concept of multiplication and knows a lot of his times tables, he can do quite complex addition and subtraction mentally and knows loads and loads of facts. Has a great memory for numbers too, ie will remember the registration number of a vehicle for several days if it's important to him for example.

What he can't manage is change and he has a very long memory for everything I've ever got wrong ever. He was asking recently why I left him at nursery sometimes when he was crying (he left in November 2013).

He also can't manage really trivial set-backs. We had to leave a birthday party a couple of weeks ago as his balloon popped and a replacement In exactly the same colour and design just wasn't enough to calm him down. He can't cope with loud noises, with labels on his clothes, the bath is too hot at just above tepid, he's often so wired he's unable to sleep and the more exhausted he becomes the less he sleeps ad the more irrational he becomes.

And yet when things are going well, which up into starting school was definitely more often than not, he's totally ace. Loving, thoughtful, funny.

I'm watching for a book from the library called something like The Highly Sensitive Child. Online research has pointed towards this perhaps something being something it would be useful to explore.

I'm going to tread super carefully here and I'm sorry if it's something you already know but I was just going to point out that every single one of his quirks you listed are symptomatic of autism. He might just be on the lower end of the spectrum which is why it's not been diagnosed yet (I think? Sorry I haven't read your diary in it's entirety). Bad with change and sensitive to sensory impressions (bath water too hot, things too loud, labels on his clothes) are classic traits of autism. Might be worth looking it up just to be able to help him cope with everyday stress factors a bit easier?

MyBestJumper

Thanks for commenting and don't worry about upsetting me.

For a long time I privately questioned whether he was on the spectrum but then a friend of mine had both of her twin boys diagnosed and it made me feel as though I'd been ridiculous even considering it for DS2.

He can be very emotionally warm, he loves cuddles, holds hands with his little brother, speaks fondly of his friends.

What he does get is massively overstimulated. This was a big reason why we chucked the telly away. Since starting school he lies in bed at night chanting rhymes and in the day going over and over and over things. He does best when he's outside which is why I spend so much time in the woods with him. I know it sounds completely hippy but he changes completely in a natural setting, you can feel the relief washing over him. I first noticed this at 3 weeks old and I'm not the only person to notice it either although no one shares my concerns that something isn't quite right. Actually, DH is starting to realise I think.

I did wonder for a while about SPD - sensory processing distinction or something. Again, he fits lots of symptoms but not enough I don't think.

And then there's the question of what I'd do differently anyway. He's still our lovely boy and he still needs to be nurtured, label or not. Oh, school haven't seen any of this side of him either. To them he's bright and engaged and doing really well