Categories: uncategorized
Date: 04 February 2007 21:10:31
Excuse me just one moment while I find something wooden to touch. Shame my brother's gone - his head has come in handy many a time over this last month.
We found the cause of Tiddles' annis horribilis - can't go into details here, but he was definitely in bad company, as the permanent exclusion of two of his "friends" testifies. Suffice to say, he gave himself a major scare. I have my boy back.
My brother has been amazing. It is so sad that he has never been a dad. He'd have been wonderful. And he was wonderful with Tiddles, providing him with the male role model and mentor he so needed just at the time he needed him most. Thank you God for perfect timing and my wonderful family.
Also invaluable was the options evening at Tiddles' school. The options don't amount to much on the whole. It's mostly a case of choosing the least of several evils.... apart from one option which is tailor made for him. A young apprenticeship in health and social care - learning first aid, hygiene, health and safety etc in college for one day a week and then spending one day a week in a work placement. Perfect! The other three days are spent in school doing core subjects. My boy has his heart set on a career in nursing, probably with the elderly, and he'd be absolutely perfect at it. But there's a big but...
To be accepted on this course he needs to achieve levels in the core subjects at least average for his age, and he's working about two years behind. Result? This boy is now coming home every evening after school and knuckling down to an hour's determined work on English, Maths and Science and is actually making progress.
To be accepted on this course he needs to pass an interview. Result? This teenager has now abandoned his teenage grunting at home and is practising communicating properly.
To be accepted on this course, he needs to have average or better behaviour record. Result? Hmmm... still working on this one, as he has two detentions this week. But he's trying.. and under very adverse circumstances as his former friends have not taken kindly to his newfound ambition.
For now at least I feel like a mother again.