I meant to write this post last week and things, you might know, have changed slightly now! But since going back to school in January Henry has just been in such a good place. So happy and contented.
We walked to school a couple of weeks ago and he actually said ‘I don’t have anything to worry about it’! How amazing! It’s a state of being I can only dream of!!
And it got me thinking – why he was in such a good place?
I know this is hard to pinpoint as we still do se Read More > 
Henry looked at his picture on the front of a magazine and said ‘I’m famous!’
Thing is, he has been our little celebrity for a while!
When I read the article (full PDf article at the bottom of this page) I was a little taken aback really. Living and doing it it is easy to forget or not to see what is actually happening.
Looking back, in June 2012 we had an emergency half day outreach with Sean Fitzgerald. Henry was unable to get through the day without continually melting down Read More > 
Henry is finding adjusting to year 4 quite difficult at the moment. To try and prevent a downward slide to a repeat of the spring term we found ourselves in last year, I’m determined to be pro active to support him. I have found it really hard to create a complimentary son rise programme that works for Henry since he started school full time, for many reasons really. I know I need to find my way for Henry’s sake, and tonight we had a very special visitor and some playroom time. Thank Read More > 
Henry (and teddy!) apprehensively started year 4 today – new building, new entrance, new teacher, new lockers etc, but same lovely friends and assistant and he had a great day and told me when I picked him up that he ‘likes school again’! 2nd year of full time school. Fingers crossed xxxx
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Today Henry swam with sea lions! He pushed to do it. He went in without me or Warwick, just with his sisters. He stood in cold sea water up to his neck with great big sea lions and Spanish instructors in front of an audience! Over dinner me and Warwick talked about it. We don’t think 12 months ago he could have done this or even 3 months ago after his very difficult term at school. In fact we had to remind ourselves that it was only 12 months ago that we felt he (and we!) were ready to fly Read More >
This really struck a chord with me. Whether you are a parent just starting out with your child or a parent who has been travelling for a while i think it’s a really lovely message. I finally had a chance to properly spend time with an amazing parent i have always admired and she too talked of how it is a journey. There will still be diversions and holds ups, smooth roads and rough roads, breakdowns and pot-holes, dual carriage ways and dirt tracks. But as long as Henry, and all our kids, Read More >
On our way back from our HANDLE review with Sean Williams. Really interesting and helpful consultation. Henry’s started falling asleep on his own (and fairly quickly) and staying in his own bed since we saw Sean in January. This has been one of our goals since we began HANDLE do is a massive achievement. Almost at the same time as his sleep improved, he started having difficulties at school. Sean gave us a useful and exciting perspective that these 2 events are not unrelated. Rather than H Read More >
When I went into school with Henry and sat outside his classroom for support I couldn’t believe how noisy and chaotic it felt – I could hear 2 teachers talking at the same time, doors constantly opening and shutting, chairs moving, children talking, toilets flushing, cups clinking, footsteps, echoes and the general hum was not at a low level but really loud. I realised at that moment how amazing any children do to concentrate in this environment let alone children with extra challe Read More >
23rd January 2013
Had a little wobble this morning and didn’t want to go school this morning for the first time since he transitioned. After lots of talking and listening and then some of a more assertive approach me and Nicky were able to get him out of the house and once with his friends he cheered up. We have noticed a little difference in him lately and Nicky has at school and feel that his ‘sensory bucket’ is pretty full at the moment. Just so amazing that he is able to sh Read More >
Henry’s topic at school this half term is dinosaurs. No one at school will realise the significance of this but Dinosaurs will always have a special place in my heart. They gave us the first door into Henry’s world and the start of our journey together! (Although at the time i didnt really fully appreciate this and had to work hard on my acceptance and joining and not trying to rush to an interaction) Sometimes we got a bit too up close and personal and many of us learnt first hand h Read More >
Wow what an amazing 2012 it has been for Henry! A full year in mainstream school and doing amazingly well in all lessons and has lots of lovely friends. Also doing really well using the ‘Handle’ therapy too. Our first family trip on a plane and overall he’s just a delight to be with. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us again this year, to James Kay and Jonni Kay for cycling from Bologna to Birmingham and raising lots of money to help Henry. Happy New Year & L Read More >
What a difference one little year can make.
These are Henry’s school photographs. One from last November and one from this November.
He has grown up so much, and achieved so much and done so many wonderful things over the last year and done them so well. In fact so well that it is easy to forget, or not realise or appreciate just what a big, huge, massive deal it is for him, and for us.
This time last year we had a son-rise team and a Christmas outreach and team meeting. Something just doe Read More > 
Warwick has been asking me for ages to write a new blog and although i do take a long time to do most things, i have been putting it off and didn’t really know why.
There is so much to tell you about Henry and my head is full of thoughts about him and the other wonderful children i am lucky enough to work with now who are teaching me so much, probably more than i teach them!
For those who know me finding words is not normally a problem i have to deal with!!!! How to cut them down or shut m Read More > 
Henry’s great auntie Christine Ashton has arranged a 50’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Fundraiser Party to raise some funds for Henry’s continued education under the Son-Rise program. Along with Henry’s great uncle Mark & 2nd cousin Ellie they have managed to get some fantastic raffle prizes together for the night – thank you so much for all the effort we really appreciate it!
The brilliant Raffle Prizes – well done and thanks everyone who donated:
pamper k Read More >
Is having real difficulties getting to sleep and then staying asleep.
We’re trying lots of different things to help but so far he still thinks ‘he can’t do it’ and especially ‘can’t do it his own’ and that he ‘can’t think of good things’. It’s probably no wonder he can’t switch off with everything going on for him. He is working really hard at school especially on his reading and making great progress and is muc Read More >
