We don't have a formal report yet but the lady today said his verbal ability is way ahead of his writing and spelling ability. Also that he has a slow processing speed (I'm not even really sure what that means). He does not have any significant issues with reading though, so that is one good thing. I really know nothing about dyslexia. Can you reassure me that this is going to be ok? That I can still teach him? That it isn't my fault (I'm not even sure why I feel guilty, but I know that is one of the things I'm feeling) Are there any good books I can read about this, to educate myself about where to go from here?

I can't think of anybody in my family who is dyslexic though. not even amongst cousins or aunts and uncles. Thanks so much for the reassurances and encouragement. It helps 😊

Thank you all. I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed. Will get my hands on those books and have a read. Thanks for the suggestions. How do I cross-post?

We don't have a formal report yet but the lady today said his verbal ability is way ahead of his writing and spelling ability. Also that he has a slow processing speed (I'm not even really sure what that means). He does not have any significant issues with reading though, so that is one good thing. I really know nothing about dyslexia. Can you reassure me that this is going to be ok? That I can still teach him? That it isn't my fault (I'm not even sure why I feel guilty, but I know that is one of the things I'm feeling) Are there any good books I read about this, to educate myself about where to go from here?

Thanks, she likes the look of these ones!

No she hasn't, and I've not heard of that before either. Thanks, will look it up ðŸ‘ðŸ¼

Brilliant, thank you!

Thanks! She's read that, but that's exactly the kind of thing I'm looking for

She is a competent reader. She enjoys reading about family life and her most favourite books so far have been 'All of a Kind Family' series by Sydney Taylor. She told me she wants something to read that she doesn't have to try too hard - just for fun. Any thoughts please?

Hi Aimee. I am a muslim convert. I don't hug other men whom I am not related to (including my BILs). Similarly, my husband does not hug other women. I think you will find a spectrum of what individual muslims find acceptable regarding touching the opposite sex (my sister in law won't shake a man's hand for example). It is unusual to have different rules for men and women in this instance though. Have you asked her fiancé why he can hug and she can't? The taking off the hijab in the car, may or may not be a sign that she is being pressured into wearing it. When I first wore hijab it was nerve wracking to be with people who had known me for many years without it - she may just have been feeling shy. It can take some women many years to have the courage to wear hijab, and is a big step for many new muslims. Sorry to hear that you are worried about an abusive relationship. I really hope it isn't that.

We are on he other side of the Atlantic Ocean, and I have exactly the same problem. Arrgghh! Sending me potty!

My children have been blessed in that they are growing up in a family where we can afford to buy them what they need, and more besides. Their clothes are always bought new. They play multiple sports, and own all the various pieces of equipment they need. They have been on various long-haul holidays. They do not have phones/iPods/personal computers because I do not want them to have these things, but they know we could afford to buy them if we wanted. Unfortunately, they have no idea how unusual this is, and how lucky they are. Things have come too easy for them. Recently one of the children has become seriously 'ungrateful' - getting upset because siblings have 'more'/different, always being displeased with what they have and wishing for something new/different. What things can be done to help children appreciate things more? To feel gratitude and understand how easy life is for them? My telling them is clearly doing nothing.

My sn has had lots of issues coughing with his asthma, and is on a cocktail of inhalers at similar profiles to yours. He has found a fair amount of relief taking montelukast tablets at night. It is not a steroid, it works by affecting the function of white blood cells.

Sorry I didn't get back to this yesterday. I appreciate everybody's responses. It is always useful to read an outsider's assessment of a situation - especially one where you feel angry. I think I'm just going to let it go. I don't think a note, or a face to face chat will make any difference at all. My kids tell me that one of the other neighbours has already tried to talk to him about the parking. There are other incidents which make me think this particular neighbour doesn't give a hoot about his neighbours. My other neighbours have always been considerate about parking and most other things too.

The parking area is owned by the nearby stately home estate (complicated old English bylaws) and they are responsible for the upkeep of that area. There is no way they will agree to sorting out parking bays.

My house is one of 6 houses that share a parking area around the back. There are no marked parking bays, but people do tend to park in the same places usually. The house next door was recently sold. We have had a number of months with builders vans and his family blocking many of the spaces. His family continually park in my usual spot which gets annoying. Today the parking area was full of visitors, not his for a change though. In my spot as usual! I ended up parking where my neighbour usually parks and of course he came home. When he got there everybody else had left so it looked like I had chosen to park there. He left me a note on my windscreen saying this spot is owned by him and not to park there again. Would you just leave it? Chalk it up to minor annoying neighbour stuff? Or would you write an annoying note back again (I want to do this because I am fed up of people in my spot!). I don't want to be rude though. What do you think?

I think you should be happy that your husband is doing laundry at all. Mine doesn't! In my world having piles of clean unfolded laundry is preferable to piles of dirty laundry.

I don't know who Macgyver is :leaving:

Well that was fun :) I went to bed and woke up to read lots of interesting responses. Just in case anybody is wondering, we are using the word clever in the same way you guys (Americans) use the word 'smart' I think. To give a bit more context, the child in question is preteen. He was remarking that he thinks he would be sorted into Slytherin because he is 'clever, cunning and a bit brave'. It was a statement, not a gloat. A passing remark. One parent thought it was concerning, to define yourself as 'clever'. The other was more concerned about the cunning part (but that is another thread!). I totally agree about the mindset part. Much better to use adjectives like 'hard-working', 'diligent', meticulous'.

We were discussing the of cleverness that goes with doing well at school, finding class easy, doing well on tests and exams etc. Not gifted. Not genius. Just top or near the top of a school classroom.

Some people project how they think in their mannerism even when they don't say. Agreed. But is it the thought that is arrogant or the action?

Yes but this isn't about what you say to other people. That is a different thing.

Discussion between DH and I this evening. One side states that 'cleverness' is something that others should ascribe to you, and even thinking that you are 'clever' is extremely arrogant. The other side states that for some people being 'clever' is just the way you were made, so how can you 'unthink' it. To be clear this is not about saying anything out loud to others, simply about how a person might view themselves. Whose side are you on ;)

The club won't let him play up for reasons we cannot fathom. So annoying.

I have three boys who play the same team sport in different age groups. This year however, there are not enough boys to make up a team in my middle child's age group. His options are to play down a year (difficult because the year below is non-contact so significantly different to what he should be doing), train every week but play no matches, or change to a different club. We are considering moving everybody to a new club because the logistics of going in so many different directions on a Sunday morning is stressful and almost impossible. We also have 2 other children not playing the sport at all. My other two boys are happy though, and have no real reason to move. Has anybody done this or something similar? Do you think it is fair/unfair/other?