Sallya

Hiya Smiley, <'> glad it's all going good, bit of a change from the last time we caught up. s xxx

I am having to strongly resist the urge to write 'mind your own business' all over the form.

hiya, get better soon <'> s xxx

Tents with a built in ground sheet are best, seperate ground sheets let more damp in; but the tents with built in ground sheets are very good, even in strong winds.

Justine, I think days like this are possible, if you are prepared. Take a toy for each which will occupy them. Give them best behaviour warnings, and tell them how you want them to behave. You've prewarned your brother, and told him about your misgivings, so I think you've got to feel the fear and do it anyway. So to speak! Have a backup plan if things get too rowdy./claustrophobic. A trip to the park, or a walk to let off steam/wear them out. s xxx

Justine, Most parents experience similar feelings at first. I know I did. Eventually, you start to realise that autism doesn't have to be a bad thing. He is still your son the same as he was before. I know it feels like you've been hit with a ton of bricks, but it does start to get easier as you adjust. Aim high for your son, with lots of support. You will work out as you go, what he can and can't do. Sometimes it's a case of doing things a few steps behind his peers, but gets there in the end. take care s x

a link to find out what going on locally http://www.primarytimes.net/home.php and another, http://www.letsgowiththechildren.co.uk/

I spotted an ad in the paper for a Mr grumpy t shirt, and thought it would be perfect for my other half for father's day. Guess what...when I get to the store....all sold out Why do companies charge so much for spare parts of things? Just brought a new net and cushion for the trampoline, and was nearly what I paid when I brought it 5 years ago. Money grabbing wotsits.

Sally, make a trip to the CAB to find out what help you can get- community charge, rent, income support. Encourage your hubby to at least visit his GP to talk things over-he seems to have a few misconnceptions about depression and medications. Talk to the children together, and let him do the explaining. sorry this is happening. But you will get through this, ok? Take care s xxx

Trying to find a parking space and the cost of carparks, and signs that are not clear whether you can park there or not.

Where do I start? The thing that really gets my goat at the minute, is the companies that make play stations and hand held consoles......they keep bringing out new models - what's wrong with the one's they're already making.....? People who can't pull their trousers up...or use a belt..... Kids that dump all their school stuff in the hall for you to trip over when there's a perfectly good cupboard...... Men that nick the tv remote.... will pop back later, got to get dd from Brownies.

paint over the lines with oil based white undercoat- once dry, repaint with emulsion, may need 1 or 2 coats. advice from my other half who is a painter and decorator s xxx

My son has a voice like foghorn leghorn at times; I used to say to him that on a scale of 1-10, his voice was a 12, and he needed to turn it down to a 5 or 6.

Just read Twilight, by Stephanie Meyer, was so good went and got the next 3 in the series, Moonlight, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, read the lot in 2 days, haven't had such a good read in ages. s xxx

Thankyou Pearl, that would be lovely. s xxx

Hiya all, not been around for a while, but things are going well. Son(asd) is now 12, and started at secondary special school in september, he is really enjoying himself and making new friends, as well as staying in regular contact with his best friend from mainstream. He's been made star of the week for helping his classmates, and his teacher says he has a lovely, kind helpful side to his nature, and a lot of people have mentioned to her how gentle he is with some of the less able pupils. Although he still continues to be noisy, boisterous funny and full of energy out and about. My little girl,(ADHD and social communication difficulties) is not so little now, she is as bouncy as ever. She is learning to play the piano, and is loving it.She has my son's old teacher from last year, and she's commented on how different the two of them are. She's still really hard work, but we're doing ok. hope you're all well take care s xxx

I've just read The Forgotten Garden, by Kate Morton....loved this book

We're back. Thanks for all the ideas, we had a lovely time.The island is so pretty. Kids made lots of friends. We went to blackgang chines, had a great time in cowboy town,i marched them both off to jail! robin hill, amazon world, son's favorite was the meercats, we spent ages watching them(but they ran off to the park when they could have watched the birds of prey display; because we'd seen a fantasic one at robin's hill the day before, where two completely free buzzards were flying in the valley) we went to shanklin beach, spent an afternoon wandering around godshill village looking at gift shops and had icecreams and creams teas, went swimming lots on the camp site in the free indoor pool and ate out on the last night at a pub which served really, really nice meals. I'm so tired, camping's hard work, had awful weather on the last night. got so much washing to do. Off to do the shopping now. s xxx

Camping in the IOW for a week, hope the sun shines for the rest of the hols, haven't had much chance to post-been a bit busy. I'm organised for them going back to school- small miracle for me- just daughter's school shoes to buy - sewed all name tags in. Any tips on what to do on IOW, seems to be quite a lot- what's the best?????/ s xxx

http://www.tesco.com/clubcard/deals/browse.aspx?N=4294967294

Flora, <'> I was in a similar situation recently; my son wasn't entered in the sats, but he is classroom assessed, and his levels are mainly 2's - that's lower than the yr 4's- so it was really hard when his friend with AS got 4's, and the mum was upset he'd got a 3 from the teacher's assessment- but, she wasn't rubbing my nose in it, or being competitve, or trying to find out my son's levels in a snidey way, or being smug about her son- and I've helped her with a few bits- so , yes, understand why you're upset - and in this instance, I think I would say next time that you're upset about the way she's handled things - espec from someone who shouldn't be comparing or trying to make you feel bad because it makes her feel better- that's just plain nasty- at least - that's the way it's coming across -and if that's the case, I would let her know you are genuinely upset that she feels the need to do that to you- so next time she thinks a little more carefully- and it's not about comparing for you, but about feeling a little raw that Ben doesn't find it so easy. I've had to say something to different friends before, when they've either said how brilliantly their child is doing, and isn't it awful that my son's doing so badly and don't I mind?- or when their child had average levels and in the middle, how awful they were doing...they didn't realise that thay might have upset me, or touched on a sore spot.so it did make them think a bit more....I didn't mind.....they just needed to know because they didn't realise, and if I had just left it it would have happened again. Like you, I'm always chuffed if someone's child has done well- I like to hear how they're doing- but don't like pushy mums. htms s xxx

Is that where you said about a meetup smiley? s xxx

Hi Jo, done lots of camping since the kids were very little, and it is very hard when they are young, but does get easier as they get older. I collect games, bat and ball games, giant noughts and crosses, bubbles, mini parachutes, cheapy games from the supermarket. The kids from all the other tents come and play with us, and join in, instead of wandering off and annoying other campers. the kids have got walkie talkies, and they are very useful/ novelty value for keeping in touch with if they should wander off. We always chose a campsite with a park. Portable dvd players are also really useful for those hard to fill moments/rain. The more you go, the more they get used to it, and the easier it gets.s xxx

Smiley, on the naughty step you little she was nit free that week, so don't worry, I check her twice a week. WHen I said hug everyone, she really did hug EVERYONE.

Have you ever tried to de-nit a daughter with ADHD? wriggle wriggle..........sit still........., don't kill them mum, you're so mean, well, if you didn't hug everyone on the last day of school.................