Klou

it seems to me that men never grow at of toys. They just get called gadgets because it is more socially acceptable. Women - my self included thoroughly enjoy playing with their children's/nieces/nephews toys that is the whole point of having children! a funny from the other day. DS and I were in the park and after following him around, then sitting on the bench for a while I decided to go on the swing. The woman on the bench behind the swings was certainly looking at me. I got off the swing watched DS on the big slide and turned around to her sitting swinging. She couldn't resist having a go after she saw me doing it. When my friend was pregnant with No2 and we visited a soft play place her daughter didn't really want to go down the slide on her own, they were a lot younger then - so I went on with DS and my friend'd daughter. I really enjoyed it. It certainly explains why most of these places have signs up saying no adults on the slide - the children wouldn't get a look in otherwise! Our biggest soft play area has recently started taking evening bookings for companies and family parties!!!

Thanks Mum22boys I've got some time tomorrow so I will make a few phonecalls. We have to phone the OT back anyway to feedback from when she saw him at school. Weekend nearly over and I am exhausted, just in time for work tomorrow.

These replies are great. Thank you so much. Mum22boys the DLA diod have a report from his nursery and it explains alot because they did not really have many problems with him. He behaved well, made good progress etc. I picked them to do the report because I ended up doing the DLA at the end of his nursery time. School had not even met him then. In the appeal I wrote that my health visitor had recommended we apply for DLA because of the problems he has at home. Interesting development - DS clawed his fingers down someone's face yesterday. He was talked too, banned from the sand play outside (it is his favourite thing really!) and informed that I would be told. The teacher thought it was quite ironic that she had given him a good report the day before while I indicated he was a challenge at home. Friday he hurts someone and when I talk to him about it he really didn't seem to quite 'get' what he had done. I guess AS children don't set much score by 'your mother will be told about this.' I too am not sure whether i prefer home angel - school devil or the other way round.

I'm glad its not just me then. Sometimes the books etc give the impression that our ASD children are a nightmare out and about but are fine in the confines of their carefully controlled homes. I wonder is it linked to AS more than autism because the AS kids function at a higher level?

Hi All. Its been a while since I have been here. Alot has gone on. I am working full time. DS started school. We are trying to get DLA after health visitor suggested it but are waiting for them to decide on the appeal. I've just come back from parent's evening at school where I have been told DS is getting along fairly well. Some days they really know he is there. Other days the teacher doesn't notice he is in school till she does the register because he gets on quietly. The only problem seems to be him touching other children when they are siting on the carpet and the teacher has a really good creative solution to that. So that is fine. The big problem is that the ed psych and OT don't want to see him again, although he is staying on file. This is fair enough as school haven't got any problems they can't manage. But at home we have. I thought there was a thread on here about others with similar problems but I can't find it. I'm doubting his diagnosis even though there are days when he might as well wear a sign saying 'I've using all my AS symptoms today KEEP AWAY!' I'm just feeling - like everyone else - that the professionals can't be bothered with us. I can't even join the NAS properly because the website and my email appear to have problems with each other!! I just want to understand what is going on here for my own sanity.

Recently decorated ds (nearly five) room. I read a really great idea somewhere which suggested for any child's bedroom that you paint three walls neutral (cream or something pale that goes with anything) and have one wall in the current fad so that when they go off space/dinosaurs/red/blue/black! You only have to redo one wall. As ds wanted red for his bedroom and he is quite a livewire there was no way I was painting the entire room raspberry. This 3+1 system worked for us. He got the warm red colour he wanted and the room is still light. Good luck with the painting. I m glad you chose to mural just two walls. I have to say my brain was doing somersaults just thinking about four completely different things.

We have exactly the same problems regarding conversations and people overload. Makes family holidays and christmas very hard work and weekends stressful. Anyone got any suggestions for how to deal with this - it is the thing that takes us to breaking point most frequently....I would love to sort it out.

Would he tolerate sorbet? I have used this before when children/adults on dairy free diets have come to dinner at my house. Most supermarket brands make their own. I thought it was lovely.

How do you get melatonin for your child? What are the requirements for giving it? Ds used to be so good at going to bed, now it is an anxious performance with lots of delaying tactics and more support objects - used to be just blanket, now its blanket, tiger, reindeer, giraffe depending on how stressed he is. He is waking early, I suspect he isn't asleep until 9pm and he has bags appearing under his eyes although he does tend to sleep through, although this week he has so far woken in the night three times. He isn't up all night and I suppose he doesn't go to bed that late but he always used to be in bed by 7.30 at the latest often earlier and I really miss the peace in the evenings. Do you think it is just the light summer nights/mornings?

Hugs to you and yours. Remember it takes time to sink in. We suspected the diagnosis before it happened but the reality of it is a long time coming. Be prepared for people who should know better to doubt the verdict. Our official diagnosis is a bit woolly because ds is so young but SALT, ourselves and the registrar all know what it means. Shame we have such trouble with the GP and the headteacher at the school he is going to who don't understand the concept of a spectrum.

Hi Took DS to the gp today to check he hasn't got a urine infection that is causing him to wet himself and apart from the fact that I was told boys are late/too busy doing other things/aren't bothered. I asked whether it could possibly due to the fact he has AS and sensory issues and was this on his notes. I was quite surprised that gp seemed quite dismissive of the diagnosis, knowing very little about it. He stated that he prefers to veer away from diagnosing behavioural conditions for a child so young, he'll probably grow out of it/ it's very mild! DS put in a stunning performance which after several minutes of almost impossible conversation. GP says he's quite a handful isn't he, then starts going through the standard list used my any one who knows nothing but he plays cars and trains doesn't he? Has friends? I felt like saying yes and we have been through this with the team working with one of the leading experts on ASD in the country and we still have a dx even if you don't agree with it. Then the man goes on to notice ds starts school in Sept and is whittering on about peer pressure having an effect etc and concludes that it will be interesting to see how a main stream school copes with him! I am confused; angry though writing this has been a calming experience; and wondering whether conventional medicine has anything to offer us. I had to have this GP today normally I wouldn't see him as his clinic always runs late - hence the uncontrollable DS and unless you can write out a prescription he doesn't want to know. Same gp told DH his debilitating RSI/back/neck problems were pretty much all in his head and to take painkillers and rest/consider changing jobs. Sorry rant over. Can I expect anything different from another gp? There are several at the practice and it was a different one who referred us for assessment but even he effectively dismissed my concerns and probably only wrote the referral to keep the piece - he expected us to be told ds was fine. So I still have no extra help on the wetting other than a sample being sent for full analysis and a suggestion to find a reward system that motivates him more than a sticker chart.

I'm with everyone else on this. I don't necessarily have a problem with this as such because we have a family album on line but if I have pictures of other peoples kids I ask before I put them up and what is more the album is secure. You have to get a login and password through DH to use it. I wouldn't want a picture of DS freely available to all. I think these days you have to ask other people's permission. I had to ask the managers permission to take photos of my own son (no one else) at the sports centre! You'll just have to explain you are not happy with them being their and would she please ask first next time.

Had another thought this morning whilst in the shower. I'm wondering if actually it is because of DS having AS that the 'another baby/child' issue has come up . I had felt completely settled on the idea of just one. But maybe that its not right for us now. Does that sound completely insane?

Thanks again everyone. I think I may have made a decision. It's just a case of talking to DH and getting the definitive answer on how he feels. Easier said than done as he could give most politicians a run for their money in the avoiding the question stakes and that is just about what he wants for tea! Your replies have certainly put more of a positive spin on the idea. That was a pleasant surprise.

Hi Gardenia Welcome and to anyone else who is new. I agree this site is addictive, especially when you are researching a hot topic. I find I have waves of addiction to it, in between getting on with everything that has to be done and then I don't come in here for weeks. Hope you find what you are looking for. Klou