The Final Chapter

After another very long gap between posts, I have decided that this will be the last update I do on this blog. Little C is at the age now where it feels unfair to share details of his life and struggles without his knowledge or input. Even though I write this anonymously, I know lots who read my blog know us in person so I want to respect his privacy. But I really hope that what I’ve shared over the years has been of interest or of use to people in one way or another. I’m keeping my blog available for now as it is still getting viewed most days, and I’m really proud of the number of views it’s had (over 11k) and of how far around the world our story has reached.

As for Little C, he is doing really well overall. The main change in his life has been socially. At the end of summer last year he found a sudden desire to have friends, something he’d shown little interest in until then. With the sunny weather upon us recently, he has spent a lot of time outside playing with whoever is out (and there is always someone playing out). Football is Little C’s passion but he will happily play with anyone who wants to play (and learning that not everyone wants to play his game!). There’s a constant stream of children knocking on the door asking for him. He’s holding his own pretty well. Navigating disagreements and fallouts (some well, some not so well). Buying himself ice cream from the ice cream van. Dealing with dog and fly encounters without me there. It’s amazing really. A far cry from the boy who rarely left the house a few years ago. 

Some good news from Little C’s EHCP too. His case is due at the SEN panel next week for a full ‘true’ EOTAS package to be officially granted. I’ve had the opportunity to help shape how future EOTAS plans will look in the area where we live. Little C’s will be the pilot and future cases will be managed using the same framework. I really hope this will benefit many other children locally - although unfortunately I’m not sure an EOTAS plan will become any easier to get in the first place - hopefully I’m wrong.

Little C’s package is full of carefully chosen child-led, PDA friendly learning and therapy. A mixture of in-person and online provisions which I hope will be manageable alongside all the socialising! On a serious note though, the recent socialising really does take its toll. His stammer and tics are relentless and although his current tics don’t seem to bother him, he is really frustrated at his struggle to speak.

I think it’s going to be a bit of a juggling act, finding the balance between what he wants to do and what he is able to do. The worry is that it may be too much and he’d go back to square one again; unable to do anything at all. So we will need to tread carefully but I feel fairly confident that the EOTAS plan is flexible enough. 

So that’s really it really. I expect the future will be more of the same - lots of ups and downs. It’s a case of enjoying the ups and not letting the downs pull us too far down. Sending lots of love to anyone else on the PDA rollercoaster, and a huge thank you to everyone who has read, shared, and supported my blog over the last three years x