barefoot wend

Tally That is absolutely brilliant news! Many congratulations. Barefoot

I can recommend looking on The Student Room site for good examples of personal statements and the sorts of things people include for particular courses. I think it would be good to mention that your interest began via your cat but show how it has developed since then, i.e don't go on about it too much! There are also some good books on how to write a persoonal statement that you can buy from a well known book selling internet site. I don't think I would mention your brother unless it has affected any exam results or impacted on your studies toward your intended degree. Barefoot

Good luck today. Barefoot x

I'd been hoping for an update to this thread. Absolutely bl***dy brilliant news! Hope all goes well - keep us posred. Xx

To go back to Littleplums's original post, I would dare to answer on my son's behalf and say that I very much believe that, given a choice, he would have preferred not to have been born with Asperger 's but as to taking a 'magic pill ', I'm not so sure. I would hope he would say 'No', as he is a fantastic lad who is very loved by all who know him, but I fear he may well say 'Yes'. Barefoot

Why not suggest it to the daily Mail? Have to say I disagree with you on your views - nothing new there.

Suze That is wonderful news! Many congratulations to your son ( and allow yourself a big pat on the back too ). Barefoot x

Sad news - nice to hear she was looked after so well by staff. Stay strong. Barefoot

Oh Tally, that is awful news, I am so sorry. Wendy x

Flappyfish Thanks for that recommendation - looks a very interesting read. Forgetmeknot Hope the book helps you too.

BD What is wrong with a reward for good behaviour?

I prefer 'innocent until proven guilty'

I think dealing with death is very hard when you are young as it is not something you expect to have to deal with. It makes you question mortality at a very early stage in your life - just as you are supposed to be having the time of your life. A friend of my daughter's died a couple of years ago and she was devastated - she normally is the type to take things very much in her stride. It took her much longer than I ever anticipated to come to some understanding and acceptance. The doctor offered grief counselling which was very proactive - not just the 'sit and talk it through' type of thing. Perhaps you could speak to your GP to see if there would be any sort of professional help you could call on? Otherwise, I found it best to let my daughter talk about it whenever she felt like it as it is better all out so you know how she is thinking rather than bottling it up and you being left in the dark.

Bid Hope all goes well for your dd and she enjoys her night. Don't know about you but all we got was a rubbish disco in the school hall. Barefoot x

Easy!!!!!! My darling lad is on prom committee - endless traipsing round looking at prospective venues, artwork for invites, shopping for decorations, shopping for smart suit - not easy with 6ft 6inch son, hair bleaching and dying!!!!!!!! Will be so glad when term ends. Also had email from school charging me £42 for week work experience which I arranged and for which he will get no pay, and I will be paying transport, etc. Aaaarrrgh! Kathryn, hope you find new job - hopefully just after Wimbledon ends. barefoot

Has anyone got any tickets? We missed out even on the canoe heats! Oh well! Will have to watch on TV. X

Bid All the very best -will be thinking of you both. Barefoot

Tally My son has just completed a first diploma in animal care at berkshire agriculture college and they had a lot of work experience to be done in blocks - most students did it at the college during free time so it may be worth asking the college you are looking at if that is a possibility - after all, the animals they have do need looking after so it makes sense to get the students to do most of it as work experience. Good luck.

Kathryn I think you are forgetting that she was "personally taught by the Dalai Lama"!!!

Is OCD more prevalent with AS? Really complex question as many experts disagree on whether OCD presents differently in those with autism and AS from general population - see Baron-Cohen and Ghaziuddin ( wrote excellent book called 'Mental Health Aspects of Autism and Asperger Syndrome'). Consultant once drew diagram for me where he put big box in middle of page with AS in, then off it lots of little boxes with titles such as OCD, Dyspraxia, Anxiety, ADHD, depression, etc. It is very easy to see AS as an umbrella term but there can be many components making up the whole picture and these individual components can be amenable to treatment. OCD is certainly classed as an anxiety disorder and those with AS can be very prone to anxiety so I don't think it uncommon to find OCD as part of the bigger picture. As the consultant said, individual components are amenable to treatment. CBT helped my son but we also tried an SSRI which can help with OCD and it has been of benefit. Barefoot

My son also went through a period of obsessively worrying that he had slipped into a parallel universe. He used to constantly ask what was the last thing I said to him when he last saw me (about 2 mins previously) and if I changed clothes, tied my hair back, or altered my appearance in any way during the day he was convinced he'd slipped into a parallel universe. He was scared to close his eyes in case it happened then as well. It was so draining on him - and me! We tried CBT using books, 'Mind Over Mood' and 'Think Good - Feel Good' (good for your son's age), which helped to a certain extent and enabled us talk through the issues. Eventually, as with most of his obsessions, it passed. My main advice would be to talk about it and reassure him that you are in charge and that he must trust that you are not going to let anything happen to him - I was quite adamant about this point and, I think, he learned to believe me. Hope it resolves soon. Barefoot

Chloes Mum Whilst it is good your daughter is receiving counselling from school, I think you need professional help as a family to deal with the enormous emotion and trauma you have been through and advice with strategies to move forward as a family. I would go to your GP and ask for a referral to your local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services where they will have a qualified and experienced family therapist, or other professional, who will be able to help you all through this immensely difficult time. Barefoot

Bid Can't believe it's been two years! Horrible to have to face surgery again but if the outcome is more movement and strength, which it certainly sounds like it will be, then it's good news in the long term. You're a great Mum and Meg certainly seems to have that 'get up and on with it' attitude that will lead to a successful outcome - looking forward to reports on progress. Wishing you both heaps of positive vibes. Barefoot x

Very sorry to hear this Js mum, very sad. Barefoot

Lovely to read such great news - congratulations and good luck to L. Barefoot