linny

Hi, I agree about the nasties in Robinsons, especially aspartamene, not good. Luckily, my ds will drink his juice with 75% water so we can get away with the nectar as long as it is just juice and sugar. I like picking out the snot , sorry seeds in pomegranites, it was one of the highlights of my otherwise fruit deprived childhood! Lin

Thanks Karen, I'll pop down to Lidl and have a look - sounds promising, Lin

Thanks both, I am looking for a peach drink if poss as we don't do citrus or blackcurrent - i don't think that Rocks do any suitable flavours ? lin

Hi we have used Sainsbury's peach high juice with some success for the last 5 years and guess what, they have discontinued it. Any ideas for an alternative - not meridian pear juice though, thanks Lin

Hi, yes I think that it was going back in to school and realising that everyone ( in his eyes) had friendship groups and he doesn't, still, even though he has made huge strides socially. I am planning to go in to school but they are pretty clueless about what they can do to help. I am just going to pick him up now so fingers crossed. Lin

Thanks Mel, we live in Nottingham, my son is nearly 10 and goes to a local mainstream school. We thought that he was coping well but clearly he isn't and we have received so little support from either health or education.Lin

Hi everyone, I havn't posted for some time as things have been ticking along nicely. However, this weekend my son was so so upset to the point that he almost made himself sick with the intensity of his crying. He said that he felt so lonely and that he hated himself and that everyone hated him. We just held him and helped to cuddle him to sleep. I feel that he ( and us ) need to have some professonal support now. I have asked before on this forum if people know of therapists that use CBT and have experience of working with children with AS. We live in the Midlands and would be willing to travel a little for the right person. Thanks, Lin

Hi Liz, no I don't think it's like ABA at all, on the website it says that they have just had rdi evaluated alongside other more intense ( and time consuming programmes) and it did v. v well. I would look at the rdi connect website and download their free 32 page booklet. I like their approach for my son, who at first site seems to have lots of skills but who is failing to make proper relationships with his peers.We don't have any therapists, we are just doing the programme from the books and using the chat room to get help.I live in Nottingham, best wishes Lin

Thanks all, i am very impressed with gutsteins book too and he seems to have 20 plus years of developing the rdi programme. I have been in touch with rdi uk ( got addy from the website) and they have been v. helpful.I am going to start the programme too and would love to be iin touch with others just starting the programme. My son is 8 and we live in the midlands, lin

Hi, just wondered if anyone is doing this programme. I have read steve gunstein's book( R.D.I with children,adolescents and adults) and felt that it made a lot of sense. There are lots of positve stories of how it is being used in other parts of the world with great success. The programme can be done by parents and is not too time consuming but when you get further on partner work is required. It seems to be backed up by clinical studies which have shown that it is v useful in supporting children who have social difficulties. lin

Hi, I have often wanted to post concerns similar to this . My son is now 8 and we have always had a 'wait and see' diagnosis, but he has continued to make progress with all the things that he found difficult as a very young child.I found that support groups were not the answer for me as I never felt comfortable talking about my worries about my son, when other parents had greater concerns.And yes, the vast majority were great but there were one or two who made it clear that they thought that I should be greatful.At school, there are other kids on the spectrum and their parents do support each other. However, my son only has one friend ( a good and longlasting friend)and has not been invited to many parties so we havn't got to know many other families. I do feel that there is a need for a support group/ network for people in this position. My son is doing well at school and does slip under the radar. We do a gf/cf diet which has helped a lot in terms of his mood and general grumpiness.I can hear many of you shouting, 'well what are you worried about then?' He still has issues which mean that he has to try hard to cope with the NT world and I anticipate that he may come unstuck as a teenager. Anyway, it would be very, very nice to talk to someone with similar concerns. Lin

Thanks, I did and was successful! lin

Hi, has anyone else heard of the R.D.I programme used by the connections centre in the U.S?

Thanks everyone for helpful and funny advice. My son sounds like yours Lisa, overly polite and saving meltdowns until he gets home. I do not want to be this mums friend, all I expect is a little understanding and common curtesy. My main problem is that all my friends are back in London and I have struggled to make friends up here - partly because I have been trying to deal with getting Calum a diagnosis and partly because I am not really working (I know.. don't hate me all at once!) I will develop a thick skin eventually, but it is hard. There are lots of other mums who I'm sure would be potential mates but when you are feeling like this it is hard to make new friends. lin

How do you all cope with other parents rejecting their child. My son has had a best friend since he started school(2 years)The other mum has tried everyting to discourage their friendship but her daughter likes my son and their friendship has endured.She has also makes it clear that I am not welcome as part of her cool crowd- wierd son must have wierd mum. I am new to the area and so don't know many people and am finding this hard to cope with.As my son is doing well at school, I have had no reason to be open about his A.S.