Topic: struggling with special needs children

Thanks Hanna for your kind words.I just trying be the best parent I can for all my kids and not always successful.I hope you and Sam are doing well.I looking at Sam's happy face and can see how much joy he brings you and well looked after he is.

Thanks, Mark. I meant it, you sound such a caring Dad! I'm sorry about your daughter who is having the baby, does she have a caring partner or is she alone? That must be worrying for you.

Sam has been a wonderful companion to me for ten years now, and I believe in return it's my job to give him the best life I can. He was very happy that day on the beach, playing with a doggy friend of his! The photographer was the husband of a friend of mine, he's a professional photographer, and he took dozens of shots that morning. I love all of them, but I do love how happy and exhausted little Sam looks in that photo!

Hi Hanna unfortunately my daughter is alone and broke up with her husband middle of last year.He isn't the babies father my daughter me.Shes struggling so much mentally,physically and financially.I did offer for her to stay here but she wants to be independent.I won't push her and just be here for when she needs me.

I have been in this house 5 years in May and it came with a stray cat who's been the best of company for me over those years and she follows me around everywhere which is so cute.

Hi Mark, I'm sorry Ur daughter is struggling and I imagine that it may be triggering for u to watch her struggle

I hope she is OK.

Hi Mark,

I'm sorry to hear that. I don't know if she has other children? Does she have a secure home? I wonder is there any kind of social work support/advice for her - maybe whoever is caring for her during her pregnancy? It sounds a lot for you to deal with alone, and you have the other kids too.

I love that your cat came with the house! Pets are great.

Hi Mark,

Maybe u can help her best by just being there, letting her know u can call u any time and Ur just as the other end of the phone....

I wasnt special needs but I was a difficult kids, my parents gave up on me and my dad told me I should never come in to his house, very sad but he had no heart for me when I was homeless and unwell.

He didn't like my partner or my chosen friends and abandoned me.

I think by accepting and loving, u help more than u know.

U do it for others here and help ppl no matter their background or experience, and letting Ur daughter know u love her is important.

That'd amazing Mark

Even if it takes her a while she knows u won't won't hee away and love her.

Ur support is unconditional

Kids know and feel that, and it makes them more confident to take risks in the world.

Hi Mark,

That sounds great! Your daughter will be thrilled.

I'm so glad to hear she's enjoying TAFE, that will really boost her confidence.

And giving her a driving lesson is a great step too. That's a skill she will probably need in a regional area, and give her more access to employment in the future too. Plus self confidence!

Sounding good my friend! Cheers.

Life rushes by too fast Mark! The babies grow up! 🙂

Volunteering at the RSPCA would be great as she'd get some experience and any future employer would like the fact that she was prepared to do volunteer work.

Ages ago I was a volunteer worker with the RSPCA in Canberra, I walked the dogs for them, they had a lovely forest nearby that I'd walk the dogs through.

They were desperate for people to walk the big dogs as most people only wanted to walk the little dogs.

The big dogs were stuck in cages most of the day. Some of them were terribly traumatised from being abandoned by their owners. It was sad, I wished I could have kept them all! But at least I could take them out for a happy walk.

Your daughter will be doing very useful work helping to care for these poor creatures.

It will be good for your daughter to feel useful and know she's helping the animals and the people working there.

Sounds like your daughter is doing well! 🙂🐕

Probably more they don't have time or care but I reckon they're wrong to make predictions

With bit of extra help many kids catch up.

Kids learn at diff paces, sometimes with reading it just clicks when it does

Well said....so true,

Why didn't they set out what they can do, offer, work wirh him on, and show what they are able to provide

Sounds slack and disappointing

Is it thr kind of place where they help only certain ppl, and five up on kids? My nephew had an aide and struggled a lot, it was so hard as the school kind of singled him out and his parents, like they didn't want to help him.

I think maybe Ur right about money

Does Ur son have any supports outside of the school? I hope he proves then all wrong...

Einstein didn't even speak til he was 7 years old, we are all different!

Hi Mark,

Is your daughter under the care of a good obstetrician/midwives? Normally if concerned I think they would induce labour.

Googling these things is always alarming! I hope she has access to good medical/nursing staff who are supervising her well. Perhaps if you are concerned can you speak to her about it?

Hi Mark,

Are you able to talk to the medical staff who are caring for your daughter? I'm not up to date with the issues around her consent for the staff to speak with you, but this would have to be given by your daughter..

Might be worth speaking to your daughter about it?

That must be so worrying. Can you get a second opinion with in health system.

I

Hi Mark,

How is your daughter at TAFE going? And how is your daughter who is expecting the baby? I hope everything is well with them both. Just thought I'd pop by and see if you had any news of them. Best wishes!