is it right to write?
Having read another blog last night, and the writer suggesting that she mainly likes to read about craft stuff, but she writes quite a lot of personal stuff, I’m not sure where to start this, or even if I should be writing this.
However, you have all been through this with me, as you have read and listened, so to me, it makes sense that I should explain what has happened over the past few weeks, and why my level of creation seems to have completely tailed off : (
As you all know Edward, who is 9, has Aspergers and is now at a ‘Special Needs’ school, he is happy and has made great leaps forwards with this change, he is very different and I think happier for being there, and being understood.
When he started there, William was about to turn 6 and seemed to be quite settled, though his behaviour sometimes could be hard to work with.
Seemingly over the past academic year his behaviour and quite simply fallen apart at school, and I have to add that it is mainly at school, he is certainly no angel at home, but we don’t get the stuff which school ‘reports’ to us.
Unfortunately this has broken down further, and as I wrote back about a month ago he was temporarily excluded for two days, this has happened again, but this time with threats/promises attached to it.
So as I wrote before, he has seen the EP, but we are still waiting to see the Clinical Psychologist, which is very frustrating, but with the second exclusion, and to be honest the quite open desperation at his school, he is now having to go to another place in the morning, and only go to his ‘normal’ school in the afternoon.
The other place, is an education centre where they deal with children who can’t cope with in the ‘normal’ school environment, and normally this manifests itself in bad behaviour. He has now completed two mornings there and is enjoying it. It is far more structured, and with very strict rules, which he really needs. So this is going to continue for the rest of this academic year, and into next year starting in September.
I am much happier with this, but this week has been totally lost to trying to sort this all out, it has been madness, and I have felt utterly frazzled, and so has everyone else in the family. William seems to be happier, so we can only hope that he continues, and that his ‘normal’ school can begin to understand what works for him while he is still going there.
This is quite potted, but it is quite boring I guess for everyone else, but I just wanted to explain, why there isn’t much seemingly going on, and hasn’t been.
The picture near the top are the details from a new bag I’m making for a friend, it will end up being her new knitting bag : )
21st June 2008 @ 10:41 am
I’m sorry to hear you have all been having such a torrid time but I do hope that you have now turned the corner and things will just go on getting better.
Good luck!
21st June 2008 @ 11:18 am
I’m glad everything has sorted itself out, It’s really hard fighting against the system, not that I know but my sister in law has a constant fight with doctors about my nephew who has a chromosone(!!) issue which will leave him with learning difficulties/speech difficulties so she is trying to do all she can now as he is 18 months old.
The new knitting bags looks lovely.
Vanessa x
21st June 2008 @ 11:48 am
Alice,
I have enjoyed visiting your site to look at your creations for a little while now.
As a fellow blogger, generally I think that talking about dramas in the family can be cathartic (as long as you are not overexposing your family, by blowing your annonimity). We are all living in the real world, and not a shiny, happy, specially lit for photos world.
As much as I like crafty blogs, which is what I mainly look at, I like connecting with people. I hope sharing what you are grappling with helps in some small way to lighten the load.
For what it is worth, your beautiful bags are shiny, happy and well lit, and they cheer me up!
Hope this makes sense and doesn’t sound like a strange lecture from a strange lady!
21st June 2008 @ 1:58 pm
Crafters are first and foremost people Alice – never ever feel bad about writing about that.
Having been through the rollercoaster with Mark, I do wonder if perhaps some boys just go through a phase where their emotional maturity and impulse control just need a while to develop as fully as that of their peers. The difference in my boy of a year of growing and a sympathetic teacher have worked wonders. He is, quite simply, a different child.
I hope the new arrangement allows William the time to grow into his own skin without being chastized and labelled in an unhelpful way.
And you? Keep strong.
21st June 2008 @ 2:09 pm
My own family rule is if the people who are being written about wouldn’t mind seeing what was published, family drama and crisis are fine to post online. I don’t think anything you’ve posted is an indiscretion–what you are going through must be so frustrating. Despite the difficulties in getting things sorted, it sounds as though you’ve found a good place for your son–hope it works out, it sounds as though it will!
21st June 2008 @ 3:07 pm
Sometimes I think it helps to get it off your chest a bit, you never write anything indiscrete so nobody will get the hump.
A bit of squeezed in creativity can lift the spirits and hopefully the new school will help.
21st June 2008 @ 5:45 pm
Although I read your blog initially from a crafty point of view, & having bought one of your etsy bags, I do enjoy the feeling of ‘knowing’ the person behind the craft.
I hope that writing about your feelings helps get things off your chest and in a roundabout way helps your creativity.
I think our children are often expected to be round pegs who fit into round holes. As the mother of an octagonal child this can cause enormous problems. I think many children, often boys, prefer clear expectations which are not often forthcoming from those in authority. I am glad your younger son is happier in this new environment – & this gives him the space to develop at his own pace.
Thanks for sharing
Chris x
21st June 2008 @ 5:48 pm
It sounds ad though you ahve more than enough to cope with and creativity is always the first thing to suffer at such times; well, it is for me anyway. Thinking of you xx
22nd June 2008 @ 10:29 am
Goodness, life sounds as though it has been hard for you recently. You sound as though you feel really let down by his normal school, which is sad. That’s brilliant that William is now somewhere that he seems happier though, although I can also imagine that the extra pick-up in the middle of the day is lessening your free time a lot…which must be another draining factor in the whole thing. Wishing you all a peaceful couple of weeks – not too long until the summer holidays now. x
22nd June 2008 @ 1:13 pm
I hope things get better for you, and for William.
I have to say, I find reading about crafty peoples’ lives just as interesting as the crafts in many ways. Blogs are pretty good places to write down your stresses, and after all, you’re only human.
Maybe I’m just nosey ans stalker-y…
22nd June 2008 @ 7:35 pm
Its sounds like a tough week. Its your blog, write what you need to write. Schools are tough places and it can take a lot to find what is best. Its like walking through mud to get it all done though.
Thinking of you
22nd June 2008 @ 10:33 pm
Of course it’s right to write whatever you want to. As Joanna says – It’s your blog, and if people don’t like what they read they can ‘sling their hook’ can’t they (and that’s the polite way of putting it).
I love your blog for your beautiful work and I also greatly admire how you cope with the challenges you have to deal with, I think you are a real inspiration.
22nd June 2008 @ 11:20 pm
its the personal stuff that lets us get to know you and makes us feel close to you. I hope William finds his place soon, he mustn’t be too happy with what has been going on. I mean I’m sure he wants to fit in, have friends, go to school and have a good time. No wonder you are feeling frazzled! I had my own personal “situation” a few weeks back and it was all I could do to shower, eat, get dressed and maybe manage a row or two of knitting! When things fall into place you’ll have a burst of creativity I’m sure. Look after yourself, the kids and hubby. Lots of love from down under.
23rd June 2008 @ 4:12 am
I hope you feel a sense of release from having written this post. It can’t be easy what you and your family are challenged with. You seem to find some peace in your craft- at least that’s how it appears to me. A nice serenity in the face of everyday. Wishing you and your family well.
23rd June 2008 @ 12:26 pm
You sound tired!
Have a rest. Would you like a cup of tea?
I have a disabled son, and I sometimes stuggle to find ways of making him happy.
You sound like you’ve done the right thing and you know your boys very well indeed.