First time in 10 years.........

[spider]

..... that both my kids are on sleep-overs and I (and DH!!!) have the house to ourselves!!!!

DS1 is staying at his friends as they have gone to the local "teen nightclub" and tomorrow (weather permitting) are off to London to "doss" so I've been told - essential 15 year-old Easter activity by all accounts (OK I admit it, I did my fair share of dossing in the very early 80's!!! ;) ;) ;) )

However, as for Ben, well, I am being a brave little soldier and he has gone for his first stay away from home with his old nursery/primary teacher who has become a great friend of ours now and lives 25 minutes away. This is his first time away without me (he has stayed at my mums once or twice but ages and ages ago, but she does only live 400 yards round the corner!!) so this is very new territory for him and for me. I've had a couple of texts to say he was fine, watched Nick Jnr and went to bed and was sound asleep by 10:30pm, so I can relax abit now!!!:o:

This is part of the bigger plan that he can go on the Year 6 holiday to the Isle of Wight as we were originally told he wouldn't be able to go because of his behaviour, his lack of integration, the amount of personal care he needs. But I have pushed and pushed as I feel he needs this development and the school don't mind taking the extra money they get for the children in the Autism Provision that I stuck to my guns and insisted that they make this work!!! So fingers crossed he should be OK tonight and then I will start feeling a little more confident about him going!!!

I must admit on the drive home I felt like crying, and even now I feel slightly nauseous with the worry, but I know this has to happen, goodness he is 11 in July and under "normal" circumstances would have had sleepovers years ago!!!

It's just he's my baby and he is such a mummy's boy, but I know our friend loves him to bits and she is sooooo good with him, I trust her implicitly, but the worry wart in me just won't stop!!!!

Before I know it he will be back and driving me up the wall!!!!!!!! I should relish the peace and quite and a nice lay-in tomorrow, but will probably be on the phone!!!!:blush:

[Claire44]

I'm sure he will be fine Sharon but I understand your feelings. When they are at home you long for a bit of peace and when they aren't there the house seems so empty and you can't think of anything else. I'm sure 'sleeping out' will make him feel so grown up and do him the world of good.

[Karen Mouse]

And you're on the Dibb?????

Long hot bath, bubble bath, bottle of wine, good music, huge slice of cheesecake.....

they'll be fine. It'll be the first of many. I'm sure it'll all go well.

Dont worry too much. They'll be back soon.:wavey: :wavey: :wavey: :wavey:

[BarryandCaron]

I feel exactly the same today Sharon. Joshy has gone to Bridlington for the day with the local Childrens Disability Play Scheme. This is the furthest he has ever been without us and he didn't understand what was happening today.

His face looked so sad when he was on the coach I wanted to drag him off but I'm sure he will enjoy it when he's there. He has a nurse with him in case he has a seizure but I still can't help worrying. The house is so quiet without him and I can't settle to do anything. I can't wait till 4pm when we pick him up.

Caron`

[Claire44]

I feel exactly the same today Sharon. Joshy has gone to Bridlington for the day with the local Childrens Disability Play Scheme. This is the furthest he has ever been without us and he didn't understand what was happening today.

His face looked so sad when he was on the coach I wanted to drag him off but I'm sure he will enjoy it when he's there. He has a nurse with him in case he has a seizure but I still can't help worrying. The house is so quiet without him and I can't settle to do anything. I can't wait till 4pm when we pick him up.

Caron`

I'm sure Joshy will have a wonderful day Caron. Try and make the most of the time to yourself, although having said that I know that if it was me I would be pacing the floor until he got back. Put your feet up and relax.:grin:

[ali-s]

I can imagine how you feel. DS9 went to a party yesterday - 6 hrs it lasted, only a couple of miles away, but I stayed in so I could hear the phone :D, he is off with his class to snowdonia for 3 nights in June - I didn't think he would be going, but he insisted he wanted to be with his friends , so head teacher & I have agreed he can go with them ( not sure if his support assistant will have to go with him - don't envy her, poor women :D ) -providing I am prepared to go fetch him early if needs be :erm: he has never stayed away from home before, have suggested he stays with my parents for a night to see how he likes it, but he says' no thanks, I've got my own bed at home' :confused2 he dosn't really have any concept of how it will be on the trip, but like your son, he will ( hopefully ) be going to Isle of wight with year 6 next year, and as the head teacher says ' that's a heck of alot further for you to come fetch him home ' :D

[loadsapixiedust]

I can totally understand everyone's feelings, the 'letting go' is really one of the hardest parts of being a parent to a special needs child. DS Ben (13) had his first day visit to a new respite centre near us this week and we hope he will soon have his first sleepover. The day visit went very well, he was totally happy and having fun although it was strange for us being without him, overnight will be very different I can see one of us not sleeping a wink ;) and it won't be Ben!

[spider]

Sorry not replied to you all:blush:

It went really well with Ben's sleep over, he slept until 6:30am when my friends DH went off to work, he asked to get up and my friend say this was ok, only all he did was promptly went into her room and got in her bed and went back to sleep!!!! I was very surprised as he must have felt very comfortable to do that, she said she was also shocked but he went back off til 8:30am!!!!:erm: Pity he doesn't give me such a break, he's been up since 7am this morning and was down watching CBeebies!!!!!

Anyhow, she took him swimming and to McD's, though she said he did start asking for me and "go back to Ben's house", but he was fine when he came home and my friend has said he was sooooo good, think it maybe the fact that she was his teacher that he was sooooo well behaved!!! She said she'd have him for a whole weekend, which is great but I'm still anxious about that!!!!

He's been to respite all day today, had another brilliant time, they did an Easter Egg hunt in the garden and when I turned up he was sprawled out on a beanbag watching a DVD!!!!

DS Ben (13) had his first day visit to a new respite centre near us this week and we hope he will soon have his first sleepover. The day visit went very well, he was totally happy and having fun although it was strange for us being without him, overnight will be very different I can see one of us not sleeping a wink and it won't be Ben!

I know exactly what you mean, they have offered to have Ben overnight at his respite care, but still feeling abit wobbly about that myself!!! I'm sure its the same with me, it's not Ben who is scared, just me!!!!

he has never stayed away from home before, have suggested he stays with my parents for a night to see how he likes it, but he says' no thanks, I've got my own bed at home' he dosn't really have any concept of how it will be on the trip, but like your son, he will ( hopefully ) be going to Isle of wight with year 6 next year, and as the head teacher says ' that's a heck of alot further for you to come fetch him home '

Sounds just like Ben too!!! He has far too many home comforts I'm sure I've made it too easy for him to want to stay somewhere else!!! But I am going to stick it out and let him got to the IoW as I know my gut feeling is he will love it!!!


I feel exactly the same today Sharon. Joshy has gone to Bridlington for the day with the local Childrens Disability Play Scheme. This is the furthest he has ever been without us and he didn't understand what was happening today.

His face looked so sad when he was on the coach I wanted to drag him off but I'm sure he will enjoy it when he's there. He has a nurse with him in case he has a seizure but I still can't help worrying. The house is so quiet without him and I can't settle to do anything. I can't wait till 4pm when we pick him up.

Caron`

I hope Joshy got on OK at Bridlington, I know that feeling, I can already picture me waving Ben off to the IoW and that sick feeling in my tummy, I've gotta be brave I know and not let him sense my anxiety!!!

Thanks again for all your replies, they do help so much, it's so reassuring to know I'm not the only wuss mummy on here!!!!;)