Hi all,on Monday I took my daughter to Tafe and put in an application for a course she wants to do next year.The lady said it was really popular the course and was good we came in when we did.I also took her to the post office to get her tax file number so that's being processed now.Was going to go a movie afterwards but their wasn't anything she wanted to see.

I will have to many next week take her to the RSPCA to sign her up for a volunteer.The riding for disabled are looking for volunteers for Saturday and will take her there.My daughter has a certificate in horse care.

My daughter has her biology exam today and then has week off and then another two days of exams and then graduation ceremony on the Friday.

Take care,

Mark.

Mark

The graduation ceremony will mark a completion of one part of her life and start of a new one. It will mean exciting times and possibly new challenges for both of you.
I really appreciate you sharing your story over time in this thread.
Congratulations to you both on her graduation.

I cried when I got an invitation for my daughter's graduation.It only seems like yesterday that I took her to school to prep for the first time .They grow up so fast.Its a very emotional time for me.

My daughter graduates high school tomorrow.Maby not a big deal for most but someone with autism and selective mutism and severe anxiety it's a huge achievement and to do it with straight A's is a remarkable effort.I can still remember the first day I dropped her off at school and I had tears in my eyes and now I do again with her finishing 13 years later.

What an emotional day today as I cried as I watched my daughter leave the school for the final time.And then I was down at my son's schools helping with a fundraiser for childhood cancer.It was in honour of a past student who lost their battle with cancer.A nice bit of money was raised for it.

Congratulations to your daughter Mark... you must be so proud of her... straight A's would be an amazing achievement for any of us... her achieving it despite everything is so very special...

Hugs

Paws

Congratulations Mark, your daughters achievements are way beyond amazing.....Your daughters hard work and your huge support and belief in her has really paid off big time...

I am so happy for the both of you and you’re family...

Grandy..

My daughter had her first job interview today at a bakery and has a trial tomorrow.I finished enrolling her at TAFE and she was lucky to enrol in that course when she did as it is really popular and over a 100 on a waiting list for it.She starts her course on the 4th February.

Hi Matchy

I've been reading up lately about Aspergers and autism and I truly didn't understand how difficult it must be to live with. What a wonderful achievement for you and your daughter, to graduate from school and get a job. That is fantastic!

You must be so thrilled! I'm truly happy for you all!

🙂👍

Hi Hanna thanks for your reply.It has been very difficult over the years for her with Asperger's and selective mutism.It is only a trial tomorrow at least it is a start and she applied for the job herself.Its great start.I have Autism my self and know how hard it is to do these things.

Take care,

Mark.

On another note today my son did not have a very good day at school and had a meltdown.He didn't have a very good night last night and had trouble sleeping.When I dropped him off at school he seemed ok but later had a meltdown.I am just wondering if part of the reason might be that his sister has finished school.I will see how he goes tomorrow.

I hope your son is OK tomorrow Matchy.

Just wondering if you - or your kids - suffered any bullying at school? Knowing how horrible kids can be to anyone even slightly different. I copped a lot just from being quiet!

Just wondering if it's much of a problem?. Best of luck to your daughter tomorrow, do let us know how she goes! 🙂👍

Hi Hanna I copped heaps of bullying when I was at school.Still effects me to this day.My kids don't seem to get bullied.The small country schools seem to control it better these days.Their is about 60 in my son's school and about 200 in the high school.

Thanks for the well wishes for my daughter tomorrow.

Take care,

Mark.

Thanks Matchy I'm sorry that happened to you.

I was asking because I know someone who is on the spectrum and very shy and I have been wondering if they had a bad time at school although they're adult now.

I'm glad your children haven't had to suffer from it.

Kids were horrible when I was at primary school long ago. I was very quiet and shy and insecure and I'm sure kids smell fear - I copped so much nastiness from the other girls! I'm in my sixties and it still sticks in my mind.

So I've been wondering what this poor person whose in their 50s went through. I've had a hunch bullying would have happened for sure.

Childhood bullying really has a terrible effect doesn't it?

So glad to hear your children haven't had to go through that.

Do let us know how your daughter gets on!

Cheers and thanks! 🙂👍

Hi Hanna my daughters trial went ok but she didn't get the job.She was looking for someone with better customer skills.At least she did the trial and gave her experience for looking for a job.Shes been looking for a job with animals so hopefully something turns up in that field.My ex had a meeting with NDIS today and unfortunately I couldn't attend as I had to take my daughter to her job trial.They said their was financial support their for her but is a bit confusing what you can spend the money on.She thinks money can be spent on driving lessons for her.She needs a new laptop for Tafe but not sure if they will fund that.

My son had a better day at school today.It can be up and down for him.settled better today.

Bullying is such a tortures thing in school and can permanently effect a person.A lot of people don't like talking about it.I found out a couple of my real bad bullies ended up in jail.They were really bad apples.

I hope you and Sam had a good day.

Take care,

Mark.

Another bad day for my son at school as he had another meltdown after having a couple of good days.He had to be picked up early today.I am feeling stressed and not sure what to do.He has a good year up to now.

Mark

Even in primary school as a teacher some students and parents found the end of year quite difficult,
You are a very caring and patient at times but it must be difficult to see your son having a melt down at school after a good year.

I worked with special needs children who went to high school and were tormented and told to do humiliating things by older students. So sad.

Thanks quirky I know what it is like to be different and made a fool of as it use to happen to me in school.

I think with my son it might be with my daughter finishing school and talking about moving out of home,getting a job and buying a car.My son has another 8 years of school.Its very hard to explain things to my son,he just has meltdowns.Hopefully when things get more routinely for my daughter and my son gets use to it things improve for him.

Take care,

Mark.

Hi Mark

That all must make your son anxious. Sounds like you're a very caring parent!

Thanks Hanna I try to be the best parent I can but it is a difficult thing.Having special needs children has its moments but I love my kids no matter what and except them the way they are.I was a special needs child myself but did not know it or my parents.Their is so much more knowledge on special needs children these days and the schools recognise them these days and have plans and support in place for them.I wonder how my life would be today with these supports in place.I try and make my children lives the best I can.

Take care,

Mark.

I have emailed my son's specialist about my son having a few bad days this week and am just waiting on a reply to see what suggestions she has wether it's a medication change or should isolate him from his sister which I think is the reason why he is having meltdowns at the moment with her finishing school and a lot of changes in her life.

I got an email back from the specialist and she is on holidays now.She did suggest a change in medication in the morning.

Hi Mark

Would the change in medication help with the anxiety about the changes with his sister?

I can imagine the change is upsetting your son. It must be difficult for you!

Hi Hanna the change in medication is more for anger issues then his anxiety.He seems to get more angry in the afternoon so just a little increase to see if it makes a difference.He only has another couple of weeks left of school to holidays.Hopefully over the holidays he improves.We will see the specialist next year before he goes back to school.

Take care,

Mark.

Hi Mark, how was Ur sons day at school today? Hope . Hope all can go well for the end of year. Must be hard on kids or affecttheir interest, knowing it's the last few weeks or days and things don't matter much anymoee.

In the last weeks of school we used to play games , I don't know if liked it so much as it felt pointless and weird like they just wanted to pass the time as there was no work to be done. I remember sometimes we'd get candy which was probably more exciting to me!

Hope this week turns out well for u all and the specialists advice is helpful for Ur son

Hi sleepy nice to see you on here.Thdle last couple of weeks are just fun activities and rehearsing for the Christmas concert.Its a complete change in routine for my son and that triggers him as well.Nothing ever stays the same and he needs to get use to things changing.So hopefully as he gets older start to deal better with change.

Take care,

Mark.

Mark

I can relate to not coping with change ,so I feel for your son as he deals with end of year routine.
How are you going..?

Hi quirky my son only has this week to go of school and then he is finished for the year and then we restart the whole process again next year.The change at the start of the year are hard for him to get use to as well.They usually give us his classroom and teacher for next year by now but that usually changes st the start of the year.I have been really tired of late.I would love to just rest but have a busy week ahead with a few things on.I will be taking my daughter into town to apply for some jobs and to the RSPCA to apply for volunteer work and they don't open to Wendesday.

Take care,

Mark.

This morning I took my daughter around to pet stores and RSPCA where she handed in her resumes.She wants to do volunteering at the RSPCA and has to wait two months to she's 18.

I am not really happy with my son's school as they don't check if he needs to go to the toilet and he has misshaps and don't change him.Somsthing I will have to address it at the meeting we have before school starts.

Hi Mark it is Really disappointing how little some educational places care for kids...to be left without being changed is so wrong. Hope u can discuss it in the meeting before the new year.

Great to hear Ur daughter has things set up

My grandmother used to say she never trusted anyone who didn't love animals. She had many pets.