struggling with special needs children

[Matchy69]

Does anyone else have children with special needs.I am struggling with mine.My youngest cant use a toilet when their at the age they should be.I am getting tired of changing them,does that make me a bad parent?The constant hyperepisodes are taking their strain especially that i am going through other personal stuff in my life

[Matchy69]

Hi Jstar my son has put on 1.5 kg since he went off his morning medication.His morning medication was causing him to lose weight and so now he's off it he is putting it back on.It was one of the side effects with it and she was always worried about it.
My daughter did start seeing a psychologist last year but my daughter didn't want to see her and stopped .With my daughter's selective mutism made it hard.My daughter thinks she will get a job at the end of the year and buy a car and she will move out of home.I know this is going to be a long slow process for her.Not sure how she will cope with her anxiety if she did find a job.

[Jstar49]

Hi Mark,

Oh ok, so thats the only strategy, the medication. Your Dr doesn't sound very...wholistic. I guess having a medical viewpoint is good. I like to then try other stuff as well, diet, excercise, things like mindfulness or activities. You're such a nature lover, I imagine you'd be similar..... Well you've talked about how much you value real food.

Your d might surprise you...?

Yeah I can see how talking to a shrink mite not work too well for your d. Maybe sand play instead...Have you heard of that? It's kinda for kids, originally, but I had a therapist once who did it with me in our sessions. It was really good! Very creative, good for unlocking subconscious....

What else does she like to do?

Cheers,

J*

[Matchy69]

Hi Jstar my son got a certificate for being respectful today so that is really good as he has gone off that medication.
No I don't know much about sand play.I probably no something but not sure.

[Jstar49]

Hi Mark,

Hey thats great! Gotta celebrate the wins hey.

I haven't heard anyone mentuion sandplay for ages tbh. Maybe it's not a thing anymore. I reckon being present with kids in nature is really similar. Or playing with barbies. Sometimes things come out, are said, which is revealing about the way the child sees the world. It is a specialist field tho, working with kids. But parents have to become psychologists just to parent, so maybe we can do heaps to help.

Cheers,

J*

[Matchy69]

Hi Jstar we first noticed that my daughter had selective mutism when she was around three.We were told she would grow out of it.She is now 17 and still has it with really not much or advice or help for her.My brother had complete mutism to he was about four or five and then one-day he just started to talk.So I thought my daughter might start talking after what I saw with my brother.
Take care,
Mark.

[Jstar49]

Hi Mark,

Yeah wow, that would be really hard. And to keep on hoping things would change and get easier for her, and you. I can imagine its kinda embarassing sometimes, I mean we're always telling our kids, say thankyou for having me, say, please can I have a drink. It's a very social/manners thing we usually take for granted.

Can she explain it at all?

I'm imagining it to be a severe form of shyness....

J*

[Matchy69]

Hi Jstar my daughter won't even talk about it why she can't talk to people.Gets a bit upset if I try and talk to her about it and won't talk about it at all.I have got use to it but it does get frustrating at times and it's a long term worry.

[Matchy69]

They closed the school due to all the rain this morning.It has been an amazing start to the year for my son with getting three certificates in the first term.Nrxt week is the last week for the term.And only two terms for my daughter to go and she is finished high school for good.Jusy a matter of getting her through those two terms.

[Jstar49]

Hi Mark,

It's great that the school is using positive reinforcement with your son. They do say that even with kids with behavioural difficulties, just try and catch them doing the right thing and notice it, reward it, and it will grow.

What we focus on, grows!

Cheers,

J*

[Matchy69]

Hi Jstar the principle at my son's school is really good Very strict but works with my son and spends a lot of time with him.Shes the best principle the school has had in dealing with the kids with behaviour problems.The others were nice but would just send my son home if he was having a bad day when she keeps him there no matter what even if she has to stay with him or walk around the oval with him to settle him down.The rewards of the principles dedication are showing now.She is totaly dedicated to the students and not taking the easy way out like the others have.
Take care,
Mark .