Happy New Year everyone. I wish I could feel excited about it but I just don’t. I had hoped that 2021 would bring the education and school setting for Charlie that I desperately wanted and worked for but alas, it wasn’t to be. 15 months in and it is looking like the placement will end. This is due to Charlie’s inability to access the setting and the setting’s inability to provide homeschooling which is what Charlie needs. I really don’t know where we go from here. We are waiting for the results of the clinical psychology sessions that we had in December with school.

Other updates are not so positives. We have had a second referral to CAMHS and I am waiting for the decision on this, we also don’t have access to short breaks even though I have received the budget to it, we can’t access it as there is no one available. Sleeping is still difficult. Learning is still difficult. Sensory issues are still difficult. But I need to throw some positives in there. Charlie has connected well with the dogs and the Guinea Pig, especially our Guinea Pig. The bond those two are getting is great. Charlie also has a new bedroom, he is now in his older brother’s old room as he has moved rooms too. There will be other changes as next year Charlie will be moving into his sister’s room!! But again the change should be positive. Dressing has got easier and bathing has got easier and more frequent, so they are definitely ones for the win. You really have to celebrate the small wins here.

School is still a no go. I don’t think the clinical psychology sessions had any real impact and I think the clinical psychologist will have the same opinion as me that any school setting is incredibly triggering for Charlie. And because of the trauma, Charlie has too many negative attachments to a school setting and he must heal from these before he can build on moving forward.

I really don’t know what the future holds right now. But I am researching private child psychiatrists as I don’t believe we will have any luck from CAMHS and even if the referral is successful I fear we will be on a waiting list to be seen which is almost 2 years long. The alternative is private of course, but that comes with a price tag which is undeniably unfair as I have given up my income and career in order to care for Charlie on a full time basis and to home educate him as he has been let down so drastically by those that are meant to support him.

Stay safe all

Georgina x