Leaps And Bounds

Monday morning, and not too optimistic of being able to get the 14 year old up - not one of his (or anyone else's favourite moments...) - but with him being Really Good At Going To Bed On Time over the weekend it was a doddle. Bit of a wobbly moment claiming a sore throat was making it hard for him to get ready, but by then I was running out of time to get him out the door on time - a phone call to school to say he was going in for the 2nd lesson and could they ring me when he got there, with the phone call made in front of him. And off I had to go, to work. And he actually DID get there, because they rang me. He did the rest of the day, so a first was him staying there over lunch instead of coming home at 1pm, and the Really Big Thing, getting the rush-hour bus back. He wanted to do that, and it was all fine.

He's coping so well.... its hard to believe I've been chasing CAMHS for 2 months for their written diagnosis, and dealing with all this official stuff to do with his refusal to go to school. Still can't help wondering how long the fuse will be though...

Onwards

Quick post, as so much is going on and I'm too knackered to write loads.....

After not getting him in for two meetings with the school, we had the attendance manager over here yesterday afternoon to see what would help him feel ok about getting back into school. Big progress, as he stuck to his agreement to speak to her. On a massively reduced timetable, with slots for quiet time catching up on work, or whatever, and definite things to do over lunchbreaks. And a work placement with some graphic designers as a massive inducement. In return for regular attendance. All systems go.....

This morning I woke up in the middle of a stupid panic-overload dream, where I'd got to work and realised I'd forgotten to wake him up. But anyway, today HE WENT TO SCHOOL!!!!

And was happy. He did 2 lessons, and will do 4 tomorrow, and is confident with getting the bus there and back. Nearly didn't get out of the door, so we got to the end of the street, then the next street, then he wanted to stop and pick up a coffee on the way to the bus stop. Which was fine.

So we're back to square 1.5, or even 2, the way it was in September, when he started school on day 4 of the autumn term, and did a total of 6 days. No getting complacent though - there's tomorrow morning, then there's Monday morning. The mood could switch, the heels could get dug in... but lots of praise and encouragement and patience...

Coffee Morning

A "phew" moment: yesterday was a good day. The 14 year-old came out for coffee with me. This was the first time he'd left the house since September.

We discovered, over adding demerara to the fairly awful cappuccino, that we both like Smashing Pumpkins. He wouldn't stop talking about typefaces when we got home.