Oh Chrsty - that is cr@p! I can't believe they suggest you start again down south! grrr dr make me mad. Ditto on making them find you a similar program down south AND get them to send Matilda's file. We get copies of all Xanders assessments and corrospondance between prof. as we move so much, I want a comprehensive file to take where ever we go - we call it the X file :-)
Mel - You sound like where we were about 2 yrs ago. DS was exceptionally bright and the light of our life. Occassionally we would pick him up from daycare and they would say he had a sad day but no more was said. When DS was 4 we applied to get him moved up into Prep early (change of age rules in QLD meant otherwise he would repeat kindy for 2 1/2 yrs) His kindy teacher then told us she wouldn't recommend it as socially he wasn't coping. This was news to us! He never ever had a tanty - not even during his terrible twos, however we know now that that ws simply because we had such an ordered routine at home and school that he was rarely under stress. With the move to Townsville and with him getting older and lots of changes to routine (new baby, me not working) what was quirky, cute and gifted became odd, disruptive and a concern. I think one of the big things was a lot of his quirk that were acceptable at 2-3 were no longer acceptable at 5-6. Although we had seen the MCHN at 1yr and 2yr when he was displaying strange things like no language, obsessive about order of toys and set out of his room etc we were told not to worry and it seemed they were right, he did begin to talk eventually in great huge sentences (although hard to understand) He now talks incesently about what ever his current obsession is. He still has meltdowns when the order and routine or rules of his world are challenged but the label of Aspergers has honestly set us free. It has helped me to understand his world immensly!!! When you read about sensory processing or listen to someone else who has autism (try aspect dot com dot au) you can understnad just a little of what their world is like, and it's not bad, just very different to how we understand the world - and they are very happy living in their world so really its just us that have the probelm :-) (or so I've been told by a lovely lady with aspergers) I completely agree with Maz, you do need to give your self time to grieve about what it means to have a child on the spectrum but... Xander is still the light of our lives (along with his sister) he brings us hours of joy and amazement and has really opened our eyes to the world around us. (oh sorry for the huge post - I think I have a bit of aspergers too :-)
Yes we are all for ASD playgroups too!!! Xander and his cousin are both on the spectrum and even though there is 5 yrs age difference they get on like a house on fire. I think it's great to catch up with other parents on the spectrum as they understand your kids and I'm not constantly apologising or managing DS behaviour.
We have had an interesting start to the week with the birthday party on Sunday. We lasted the whole 2 hrs without a meltdown! we had a few close calls but we made it and had everyone just packed up and gone home when they were suppose to it would have been excellent but... we lingered and disaster struck, he tripped over a rope and that was the straw that broke the camels back. Since going off dairy he is hypersensitive to pain and just lost the plot, his friends were very understanding but not the best in building relationships. Monday we had a relief teacher and today the bookfair so he is boucing out of his skin at the moment. Fingers crossed for a more settled end to the week.
You sound like where we were about 2 yrs ago. DS was exceptionally bright and the light of our life. Occassionally we would pick him up from daycare and they would say he had a sad day but no more was said. When DS was 4 we applied to get him moved up into Prep early (change of age rules in QLD meant otherwise he would repeat kindy for 2 1/2 yrs) His kindy teacher then told us she wouldn't recommend it as socially he wasn't coping. This was news to us! He never ever had a tanty - not even during his terrible twos, however we know now that that ws simply because we had such an ordered routine at home and school that he was rarely under stress. With the move to Townsville and with him getting older and lots of changes to routine (new baby, me not working) what was quirky, cute and gifted became odd, disruptive and a concern. I think one of the big things was a lot of his quirk that were acceptable at 2-3 were no longer acceptable at 5-6. Although we had seen the MCHN at 1yr and 2yr when he was displaying strange things like no language, obsessive about order of toys and set out of his room etc we were told not to worry and it seemed they were right, he did begin to talk eventually in great huge sentences (although hard to understand) He now talks incesently about what ever his current obsession is. He still has meltdowns when the order and routine or rules of his world are challenged but the label of Aspergers has honestly set us free. It has helped me to understand his world immensly!!! When you read about sensory processing or listen to someone else who has autism (try aspect dot com dot au) you can understnad just a little of what their world is like, and it's not bad, just very different to how we understand the world - and they are very happy living in their world so really its just us that have the probelm :-) (or so I've been told by a lovely lady with aspergers) I completely agree with Maz, you do need to give your self time to grieve about what it means to have a child on the spectrum but... Xander is still the light of our lives (along with his sister) he brings us hours of joy and amazement and has really opened our eyes to the world around us. (oh sorry for the huge post - I think I have a bit of aspergers too :-)
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