Eva

Hi Karen, that's a great decision youve made <'> . I hope J settles down soon <'> and I'm sure he'll love HE! I know my boy would! Evaxx

Hi Nikki, my son says the same things too - he's 7 and has AS. He goes to a local primary school and is falling through that social gap. He says other kids don't like him and he has no one to play with. It's not true about other kids not liking him - they ask him to play - but the trouble is he doesn't know how to play their games, and prefers to wander around 'daydreaming'. (Unless it's an organised game on the play equipment or hide and seek or something like that). My son told me that he gets confused and doesn't know what to do and it's too difficult, (playing with other kids.) The school has been sort of helpful. Twice a week at lunchtimes he's allowed to use the computer, another day he goes to Artclub, and there's the Dr Who club. He now also has two older 'buddies' who will go to the clubs with him at lunchtimes. My son is happiest in class too because it is structured. It's heartbreaking when your child is so unhappy <'> Is there a teacher at school who can organise games/books or something at lunchtimes for him - and other kids? It took ages for the school to listen to us and acknowledge that my son needed more structure. Eva <'>

Hi, I used to give my son Movicol and it was great. I gave it to him after school so there was no worry about accidents and now he only goes to the toilet to poo in the evenings - sort of trained his bowels. We've weaned him off it now but it was a life-saver! Eva

Hi Enissa, I have a 7 year old son with AS and I live in Australia too - Victoria. Please to meet you! Eva

Hi Karen, just thought I'd send you some <'> <'> <'> . I like your point that J's always autistic - we have that problem at school too, that my J looks like he's coping, therefore how could there possibly be a problem? The teacher asks J how he's going and he says, 'good', so everything is just fine, according to them. <'> Evaxx

Hi everyone, I was wondering if people had any ideas/strategies about how to help my son listen in class (My son is 7 and has AS and he's in a mainstream primary school). Yesterday I was helping out in class and the teacher was telling the children about fiction and non-fiction, (this is a prep/grade 1 composite so the kids range from 5-7 years old). As she was talking and asking questions, I watched as my son turned around and ended up staring out the door, daydreaming, so eventually he was sitting on the floor, facing the other way . The teacher wrote what they were all saying on the board, but my son had tuned out from the very start . What would be an effective way to make sure my son is tuning in to the important part of the lesson? Or should I ask the teacher to give me any new topics the day before so I can go over them at home with my son? Any ideas welcome! Eva

Hiya Fran, yeah, going to pick up J from school soon so thought I'd have a look here instead of doing the dishes...is it too late in the day to have a coffee? Eva

Hi MOTB, I'm in Australia (Victoria) too - I can't remember how I found this site originally, but it was through a link somewhere. I have a 7 year old son who is diagnosed with AS. Welcome to the forum - it's a very supportive place! My other son is trying to help me type so that's all from me now - look forward to getting to know you more. Eva

Well now, strong lattes I like but not instant coffee. The local bakery makes such good coffee that I have one before doing housework - extra energy! I've gone off Earl G tea for some reason and now drink loads of Bushells or English Breakfast, white no sugar. I haven't had a coffee today . Eva

Hi BusyLizzie, my son calls his internal world 'daydreaming' too! He spends a lot of time daydreaming and as he's getting older, (he's 7 and diagnosed with AS), he seems to be doing it more. (If he's daydreaming in the evening, he calls it 'nightdreaming'). My son does the same sort of thing as yours, as he's walking along he's living out a different world in his head, and he hums and sort of sings. He'll answer some questions sometimes, but most of the time he's thinking and talking about Ben 10. School is getting hard socially for my son now and I suspect he's daydreaming a lot there. He finds school very tiring and exhausting and he has no idea why the other kids do the things they do . Just wanted to let you know that my son is a bit the same <'> and I'm interested in people's thoughts too. Eva

Have fun everyone in Greenwich! Is that pronounced 'Green witch'? Eva

My children ate everything I made for dinner, without gagging/turning pale at the sight of the food/clutching at their throats/saying it's disgusting... Well done loobylou2! That's great about your daughter's transition Bagpuss - I always get stress headaches and a sore neck from worrying, and a sore jaw.

Hi Marion <'> <'> I know how frustrating this is. In my son's first semester school report a couple of weeks ago, (he's 7, diagnosed with AS, has auditory processing disorder, possibly innattentive ADHD too and goes to a mainstream ps), the teacher commented that he needs to, 'listen more in class', and he 'needs to learn to work more independently', but with no comment how she is actually going to help him - such as more visual cues like written instructions. Hmm. The teacher has been to two professional development days with Tony Attwood this year. I wonder if she nipped out to the local cafe instead and sat there sipping on cappucino's the whole time. Oh yes, my son was very unhappy during the last week of school before the holidays, and didn't want to go to school - social issues in the playground - and the teacher said, 'he looks fine to me'. So I know how frustrating this is I'm sorry to hear that you lost <'> <'>. Eva

That's unreal Hev!! <'> Eva

Hi Karen, that's so funny! Evaxx

Has anyone read, 'The Stone Gods' by Jeanette Winterson? I've just read it and need someone to explain parts of it to me! Eva

Hi, my son (he's 7) speaks with a mixture of accents. Some people have asked if we've been to England, sometimes he pronounces words with an American accent, and sometimes he uses an Aussie accent. When he's trying to be polite he sounds very posh. Oddly, he speaks Italian (he's learning at school) with a really broad Aussie accent though - despite the teacher being Italian and not having an Australian accent. Eva

Hi Hev, here some more <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> for you. What a stressful time you must be going through. Eva

Hi, I'm reading 'Nul Points' by Tim someone or other, it's about the author interviewing all the people who scored no points in Eurovision contests. It's quite funny. I'm also reading 'Patrick Parker's Progress' by Mavis Cheek, which is about a guy obsessed with building bridges and becoming famous. And I've recently re-read a PG Wodehouse book - I love them! Eva

My son (he's 7) has really enjoyed over the past year: Captain Underpants, the Ricky Ricotta series and the Tahsi series. He also likes a bit of Tin Tin. Cheers, Eva

Happy birthday Pearl!!!! Eva

Both my sons at various stages were into Thomas and as my DH is very technical, he loved going on about single gauge and narrow gauge engines and all the different types of funnels, so now I'm a bit of an expert . There was one episode which I really sympathised with. One of the engines bashed a hole in the side of the Fat Controller's house, while Mrs FC was making breakfast. Never mind the whole place was totally destroyed, all she said was, very crossly, 'now I have to make more breakfast'. That would be my response too. My 7 year old AS son still loves trains and stations. He has memorised the ENTIRE train and tram network, he recognises all the different types of train by look and sound, and when my DH takes him out on train rides, he takes his digital camera and makes littles docos of the journey! Cheers, Eva

Every book I've read recently is filled with violence of some sort or another. I've read 'Q and A' and that was quite gruesome at times, 'The Kite Runner' which I know everyone in the world has read and got through, but I don't think I will, 'The English Passengers' which is full of people being killed, 'The Secret River', and so the list goes on. I might try the new Joanna Trollope book next, hopefully there won't be any decapitations or mutilations in it! I did read recently a Bill Bryson book called, 'The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid'. That was enjoyable. Eva

My sincere condolences to you and your family Mrs P, on hearing this sad news. My thoughts are with you. Eva

Thanks for the tip Bard , I mentioned sentence cards to the teacher and she's interested in trying this out, so fingers crossed... Eva