DaisyProudfoot

<'> Oh dear, sadly this is the way our kids react Justine, the number of times a day the words "............but Martin!" echo round our house as we try to calm a distressed 10 year old. I don't really have much advice except maybe just leaving him to it until he's worked out his aggression and explaining to his friend that he really does like him it's just he gets a bit upset from time to time.

Kripes Lauren did your mum go to my school because I was that child Seriously - that's the way we were taught too - and what good did it do me..........well I still can't do my tables even to this day.......although on the plus side I can still rattle off a good few phrases from the catechism - a good read for us Catholic kids Mel We look forward to the new NT child! And if it's any consolation I've lost count of the number of times my dad says: "Well, he doesn't do that in my house!"

I forget how vulnerable AS kids can be. Example: The twin's school had a little fair a couple of mornings ago to help raise money for the building fund. Parents were welcome and the kids were all encouraged to bring a small amount of money to spend - stress small here. Anyhow, my kids all get a generous pocket money allowance because hubbs believes that everyone should benefit from Martin's DLA because we all have to put up with him His twin took a small amount of money, Martin did not - he actually took ?11.50! (which I wasn't aware of until my dad - who went to the fair - later informed me) - Martin then generously shared out his money with his so-called "friends" - to one child he gave ?5! My dad informed me of this when I got home from work and I quizzed Martin about it. He replied that it was his money to give away to whoever he liked! I explained that was not the case and these kids were just using him - although the odd 50p wasn't a problem, ?5 was a helluva lot of money, and he must explain to the child that it was a loan only as it came out of his pocket money. Problem is - this is primary school - what's going to happen in high school - it'll be his dinner money, his bus fare or even protection money! Very worrying indeed

I agree Haley if its relevant then its not old. The article in The Times sums up the way many relationships progress followed diagnosis for any situation. Like the writer I too went all out to improve the relationship we as a family had with Martin - I found this forum - I found the NAS - I found lots of things. My hubbs let me do all the research and I passed things on to him and the rest of the family. We never drifted apart because we're not that sort of people but the research worked, Martin has improved in many ways, while many are still a daily battle

Well done Phasmid - you must be so proud So...........what are you going to do with it?

I like the holidays - no school, no homework, no panics - just an easier life ....... roll on hols

<'> <'> <'> That's just typical of horrid kids - at least your son knows he's above this little runt Sadly it brings back many images of my own childhood. My constant desire to be part of the "it crowd" - the popular, cheerleader girls whose parents had money and who didn't run around the streets in her bare feet and handme down clothes like I did - it made my early school life pretty yucky at times and I'll never forget the taunting I would get from one "little miss perfect" because of my niaivity. But that was the child - and she's all cuddled up safe inside of me now where she won't get hurt any more. Your son will be naturally upset and feeling rejected but he will move on and find new friends, perhaps it may be worth getting him involved in a club so he can meet genuine kids with the same interests.

I'm not a particularly bendy person at the best of times what with my arthritis but I did try to recreate my headbanging days at a friends house a few weeks ago by bending backwards flat on the floor with my legs underneath me with the air guitar playing above my head - and yup I too got stuck - in front of 3 teenagers - ah yes, a few cool points lost there I fear

Mine would be: Raising the Stones: Sherri S Tepper Another planet light years away the descendants of Earth travellers discover unusual things beginning to happen on their colony. People are content, happy and start to build temples but not to an obvious god, the affect is such that the "religion" spreads to other planets and - well it's a good story Gate to Womens Country: Sherri S Tepper An excellent look at sexism within society - again on another planet. Brilliant! Beauty: Sherri S Tepper A rather scary twist on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. An excellent read - an award-winning book Tad Williams: Otherland series A seriously scary book set not far into the future when a bunch of ageing millionaires create a cyber land on the internet where they can transfer their minds to when they die and then it all goes horribly wrong! JRR Tolkein: The Hobbit Actually the list is pretty endless

Don't you sometimes wonder how things have happened? For instance I was watching the adorably sexy Ray Mears last night on one of my fav episodes about building a birch bark canoe. Who on earth first had the idea that you could skin a silver birch roll it up, add other bits of wood and build a canoe? Amazing isn't it? Anyone else ever wondered.............?

And if you're still puzzled here's the link to one of my fav all time songs http://www.alteringtime.com/features/misc/?p=baggins

Oops I'm meant to post some lyrics. Here are some lines from a popular ballad from the 1960s "In the middle of the earth in the land of the Shire lives a brave little hobbit whom we all admire. With his long wooden pipe, fuzzy, woolly toes, he lives in a hobbit-hole and everybody knows him" The singer is better known for a more logical role

Talking Heads "Once in a Lifetime"

Now you know I don't usually pick up on people's spelling but - didn't everyone get very wet? Unless it was a lagoon sort with lots of noisy birds on.

I had it out with him last night - his behaviour is doing my head in literally! He came in, did his homework (shock, horror ) to which I praised him and he went through to the living room to play on one of the computers. However one of the other kids was on the computer he wanted to be on so he did his nut, ranting and raving at me etc - I just lost it. Suffering from extreme fatigue and a headache I let loose. I just turned to him and yelled until I was blue in the face. Eventually I screamed: "I don't ###### care if you have Asperger Syndrome, not a bit, you've walked over me for years and it's just not happening any more - do you understand - this is the real world you live in boy and it's not an easy place to live so AS or no AS you have got to learn to live in it - like we all do. So start living in it, stop treating people like ###### and respect others." Or words to that effect Anyhow I then apologised to my husband for my outburst to Martin and explained that I think I'm probably going mad. My husband replied: "No my dear, I think you are finally going sane." Anyway Martin got over it within a few minutes and went off into the garden to play with the toddler but I think something did sink in. He went to bed without complaining and did all his morning routine without a hitch.

Hi Glock It sounds to me like you've joined the teenage boy's locust club. My boys literally eat me out of house and home and never put on a pound! They're always ravenous and the week's shop which can cost up to ?200 a week which with my kids usually lasts until about Wednesday. What I started doing is reducing the junk food and buying fruit, wholemeal bread etc. They still have crisps etc but my view is when they're gone, they're gone. Teenage boys eat - fact and if there's nowt junk then they eat healthy instead. I do make eating awkward for them by banning it from various rooms, they can't eat in the living room unless it's a proper meal and they can't eat in their bedrooms. But seriously they're growing boys especially between the ages of 12 to 20 years old and they do actually need a greater food source. My eldest (15) is now almost 6ft tall and my next one (13) is suddenly shooting up too. They do stabilise eventually!

The only input from the school was a conversation between his paedetrician and his SENCO - we asked the paedetrician not to bother with his head teacher who believes Martin doesn't have a problem even after his official written dx!

2000! I didn't even know they had numbers on them! And......I never even considered asking for a pay rise. Dunno if I can really when I'm not working I'm kinda wired up to this forum so it wouldn't be totally fair on the boss really. Actually talking of a different language I have to admit when I ring up southern folk I know fine well they are having difficulty with my accent. I have southern friends who just sit there totally stunned when I'm talking especially when drunk (ah them were the days) and I don't even notice I have an accent. I'm tired of dancing can I stop now, me knees are going wonky Eeeeeh pet, A'aam ganna see if me tea's cucked yet (that's dinner to you lot ) It's chips and burgers!

....................then just in the middle of the dancing Tatters can't contain herself any longer................. "I've been headhunted! : " she burst out "I really really have ....... a FTSE 100 company in London wanted me .......little old me ........ to be their media events manager for London and the Home Counties!" Seriously guys (and this is DPF speaking) I really have been headhunted! I was gobsmacked when they phoned but pretty damn chuffed too..................and wait for it..............I said NO a big fat one because I love the land of Geordie folk too much and I would have had to go to live in London. So hows about that then......your very own Daisy Proudfoot (aka Tatters) is a real life superhero .............anyway enough of me boasting ............ back to the pole dancing.......you put your left legski in, your left legski out, inski, outski ....... shake it all aboutski (oh sorry not that sort of pole - Doh!)

It's happened Martin's SENCO (and form tutor) is now on maternity leave from today. I'm dreading the supply teacher (although I'm sure she's lovely) it's just that she doesn't know Martin's little ways and we might have to start doing - sssshhh Homework - Oh Boy ....... he's been with his SENCO for two years ........ guess we'll just have to see what next week brings. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear ........ not looking forward to it one little bit

Awww Smiley pleased he had a great time. We're not having a sports day this year - Woo Hoo! - because the school's having building work done. Thank God for small mercies

My five have all had their jabs and boosters (except the littlest one - but he's had everything to date). The only one with AS is one of the twins and that was obvious well before the booster jabs. I'm all for the vaccinations because my daughter nearly died from whooping cough when she was just six weeks old and even after she recovered from the disease I still had her vaccinated for it just to ensure she had full protection. I believe that autism and AS are genetic and it seems to become more obvious around the age of the first MMR which is why people have been inclined to link them. However, you are welcome to shout me down if you don't agree because everyone's view is different BTW has anyone ever heard of a child contracting a mild form of mumps/measles or rubella following a close relative/friend being vaccinated. I only ask because one of my nephews had his MMR and a week later his brother came out in a rash and the week after that my youngest has come out in a rash (which appears to be dying down now) but he hasn't been ill with it at all. Doc says it never happens and my little one's is just viral but I'm not so sure

Hi Stephanie IKWYM about trait watch! However many children line things up especially little ones this in particular doesn't constitute a trait. If you are concerned design yourself a "trait" chart and tick stuff off if it comes forward, if nothing else then just to put your mind at rest

What would you like me to be wearing?..................................... Oh sorry, I thought you were that bloke who keeps ringing me up at work, the one with the asthma (at least that's what I think he's got! )

Wasn't she the semi-naked one who wore the deerskin stuff? Now why would you remember her in particular? Oh....by the way....Tatters has just wandered back into the Batcave too...but it just ain't the same on a Friday lunchtime.