Hugs all around

Finally, finally, I am back home again after a longer stretch away due to the family holidays in Finland and Sweden. How it feels good - although I have not started with the mail, yet, since it is Bank Holiday Monday. The day is extraordinary, since Archaeologist Husband is away for work - the only day his boss and collaborator could make due to the elections last week. Thus, I am left to entertain Mr Wriggly, who was enthusiastically hugging us both both in the evening, when I arrived just for time for bedtime story, and now in the morning. I surely have been missed - and the bedtime story reading was longer than normally, since I have to encourage his questions for developmental support.

The developmental assessment has come through and Number One Son is significantly delayed. However, there seems to be slight differences of opinion between the professionals how significant the delay is, so we will see. As a Finn I am not totally worried, yet, since most Finns know that the developmental differences are wide until 7, although it is clear he will require help at school in England and will miss the targets for 5-year-olds. But what can you do, except trying to support a happy and confident child, who makes constant progress - although it is not swift and quick. Luckily, some of the fuss can be blamed on a certain Education Secretary who does really not know much about the different speeds of development in young childs. Nevertheless, keeping eye on progress is never to be underestimated, but the support should be automatic for all children.

The SEN rules are changing, so what the future brings is not perfectly clear. Archaeologist Husband has to arrange a meeting with the school and we will see. I hope I will be in the country on that day, since even if I have been working away, I do follow carefully the situation. Is it responsible parenting - or just parenting...

No targets in sight

This week saw Number One Son’s assessment by the paediatrician. The doctor was apparently quite happy, but I think Archaeologist Husband did not tell how much his drawing skills are behind the others. He can do a fine volcano and a dinosaur looks remotely as a real one, but any human figure is rudimentary. One of Number One’s schoolmates asked me about his mother figure, which had my one eye in the right place but the other on my chin and the figure was basically a head with a scarf downwards. At that moment I was speechless, but I probably have to start explaining to other children that with Number One Son it will take slightly longer.

Now all the offices, professionals and agencies will need our approval that they can speak to each other. Well, self-evidently they will get it, since we want that Number One Son will be monitored, even if he is probably just a late developer with a speech difficulty. In Finland this would not be a problem, but in England he will go to Class 1 in the autumn. He will probably fail all the targets for 5-year-olds that will not trouble us so much but is likely to be a bit of a headache for the school.

Thus they may hope some kind of diagnosis that would help them to explain to the Department of Education why the lateness is the case. In Finland the fact that he is a five-year old would be enough. Nothing is expected properly before seven there.

Nearer the understanding

This week brought a new assessment from Number One Son’s new speech therapist. She considers him having the speaking skills of a three-year old, but apparently understanding much more. We the parents know this, since his knowledge of dinosaurs is extraordinary and he shows signs of strategic thinking and business acumen when it comes to getting new dinosaurs.

Number One Son will soon be assessed by a paediatrician as well, so we will hear if it is likely that all this is only about speech development and lateness or if there is anything else on the background. To us he is a happy boy who shows signs of intelligence, enjoys exploring and likes his friends, so he is our delight in any case. Even if poor Archaeologist Husband gets tired while I try to keep our finances balanced and get my research somewhere.