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Jul. 2nd, 2008 08:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
llywelaI have to keep chasing that 3-legged cat Ludoh away from the flat. It's nice that he wants to make friends, but he really intimidates Poppy, and I can't have him muscling in on her turf and making her uncomfortable in her own home - bad enough that he keeps cornering her in the car park. I've never seen him attack her in any way, but he does chase her at times, and also has a bad habit of just sitting around, close enough that she won't move from wherever she is hiding until he is gone. *sigh* These territorial animals, huh!
It was my parents' wedding anniversary yesterday, 36 years, so I took them and Small out for a meal. Unfortunately, what should have been a pleasant, celebratory occasion was rather dampened by the fact that Small had got herself into a lot of trouble for mitching off school and was still very wound up about being in trouble. She just...doesn't understand why it is such a big deal, and nothing anyone says seems to sink in. Apparently, Small and another girl had decided to mitch off class together and managed to get out of the school grounds. A massive search was launched for them, but when the teachers spotted them out in the street, Small actually ran away from them. She got into huge trouble, is on detention every break time from now until the end of term, and has to have a member of staff escorting her around at all times. They would consider suspension if they thought she would consider it a punishment, but she wouldn't. She'd just be glad to have the time off. And she doesn't understand that what she did wrong - she knows it was against the rules and that everyone is angry with her for it, but she doesn't understand any of the reasoning. She just didn't want to go to class, so she decided not to, because she can only see things from her own point of view - there is no empathy there at all for anyone else. She can't see all the ways in which it was wrong and caused a lot of stress and worry for other people. Getting into trouble just made her angry and belligerent, and she completely failed to see why a reluctant and unwilling apology failed to instantly restore harmony. I could go on to explain in greater depth, but...it wearies me just thinking how to try to put all her little quirks and challenging behaviours into words. Suffice it to say, she is very hard work at times. My poor Mum is so exhausted.
In other news, the fifth series of New Tricks starts up next Monday. Yay! Probably hardly anyone on my f-list knows what that is, and I haven't seen every episode of the previous four seasons, but I really love the show. It is made by the BBC and is about a female police superintendent who works on cold cases with the help - and sometimes hindrance - of three retired coppers. It is quirky and funny and touching, and has an amazing cast and fabulous character dynamics, and I'm really looking forward to the new series. Especially since everything else I watch will be on hiatus after Doctor Who finishes this weekend!
It was my parents' wedding anniversary yesterday, 36 years, so I took them and Small out for a meal. Unfortunately, what should have been a pleasant, celebratory occasion was rather dampened by the fact that Small had got herself into a lot of trouble for mitching off school and was still very wound up about being in trouble. She just...doesn't understand why it is such a big deal, and nothing anyone says seems to sink in. Apparently, Small and another girl had decided to mitch off class together and managed to get out of the school grounds. A massive search was launched for them, but when the teachers spotted them out in the street, Small actually ran away from them. She got into huge trouble, is on detention every break time from now until the end of term, and has to have a member of staff escorting her around at all times. They would consider suspension if they thought she would consider it a punishment, but she wouldn't. She'd just be glad to have the time off. And she doesn't understand that what she did wrong - she knows it was against the rules and that everyone is angry with her for it, but she doesn't understand any of the reasoning. She just didn't want to go to class, so she decided not to, because she can only see things from her own point of view - there is no empathy there at all for anyone else. She can't see all the ways in which it was wrong and caused a lot of stress and worry for other people. Getting into trouble just made her angry and belligerent, and she completely failed to see why a reluctant and unwilling apology failed to instantly restore harmony. I could go on to explain in greater depth, but...it wearies me just thinking how to try to put all her little quirks and challenging behaviours into words. Suffice it to say, she is very hard work at times. My poor Mum is so exhausted.
In other news, the fifth series of New Tricks starts up next Monday. Yay! Probably hardly anyone on my f-list knows what that is, and I haven't seen every episode of the previous four seasons, but I really love the show. It is made by the BBC and is about a female police superintendent who works on cold cases with the help - and sometimes hindrance - of three retired coppers. It is quirky and funny and touching, and has an amazing cast and fabulous character dynamics, and I'm really looking forward to the new series. Especially since everything else I watch will be on hiatus after Doctor Who finishes this weekend!
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Date: 2008-07-03 06:29 am (UTC)Is it better or worse that she is getting older? I mean, do you feel any bit better that she is getting old enough ton take a little more care of herself when alone. Or is it that now she's getting big enough that she can get into bigger trouble. I really don't have experience with autism and wish I had any suggestions for you. *hugs*
My love to you and your family.
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Date: 2008-07-03 07:20 am (UTC)Small is in a mainstream school, but does receive extra support because she has a statement of special educational needs. The statement isn't adequate for her needs, and is being contested by my parents and the school at the moment - the statement only allows for five hours of support a week, paid for by the local education authority, but the school had employed a full-time support assistant out of their own budget because of Small. It is an excellent school, and the best place for her out of the available option. She does have a lot of support in place. It just isn't quite enough, and that is down to the LEA not wanting to pay for more. The main difficulty is that although she tests on the autistic spectrum, her disability isn't profound. Which should be a good thing, but in fact being on the borderline just makes her all the more vulnerable - she isn't disabled enough to qualify for special programmes or extra support, but she is disabled enough that she will always be incredibly vulnerable.
It is getting worse as she gets older, definitely. She sees other children her age having a lot more freedom, and wants it too, but isn't able to cope with it. She's going through puberty, but isn't mature enough to deal with all those changes. She is old enough to get herself into a lot of trouble, but not responsible enough to make the right choices. And this is at 12 - it is terrifying to think what she'll be like at 15/16! So we just soldier on and do our best, and hope to keep her grounded enough to get by.