Categories: the-joys-of-parenthood
Tags: school, Asperger's
Date: 08 October 2007 15:38:05
We went back today for a visit (without son) to the child and adolescent mental health unit our son was in for the last academic year; they had a visitor from the Children's Commission and wanted her to meet present and past parents. It was strange to be back at the place that had so dominated our lives until recently - and nice, too, to sink back into the level of listening and support we got there, and which we miss now. We felt very welcomed.
However the journey and the spending of a couple of hours there talking about our son's needs, was totally exhausting, and I went straight to bed for a snooze when we got back. How did we do this every Monday for nine months - and with a kid and suitcase in tow? I asked this of The Grouch, and he very sensibly said 'Because we had to'. Extraordinary how one adapts to necessity.
I'm glad son isn't there any more, though it did him a great deal of good, but it does also feel as though we're on our own again now, with various problems unsolved (like whether we can and/or should get a specialist school for him). He is surviving fine in mainstream with full time support, but we can no longer trust the school to keep giving him that support, and the strain on him does show when he gets home. And as well as adapting to his Asperger's Syndrome, we have to consider what will best bring out and challenge his undoubtedly high intelligence. 'Special needs' does not always mean 'low attainment'!