Our village had our regatta last weekend, Was looking forward to it but anxious at the same time. We watched the boat races and looked at all the stalls, was a very high tide so let Teddie enjoy the water with his brother. We ended the day at my friends sitting chatting with a glass (or two) while the children played out the front. I was nervous when he was close to the water but let Teddie have a bit of leeway before I called him back over. He played so well with all the kids and seemed relaxed. I knew he wanted the toilet but he refused to go, I’m starting to wonder if there was something that has frightened him as he’s been reluctant to go anywhere where other then familiar places.

With me constantly feeling anxious Teddie is going to get lost and not be able to say who he is, where he lives etc, my lovely friend mentioned getting him an ID bracelet. I looked for ages at all different types and came across children’s specialist wrist ID bands with safety clips, they can only be opened with two hands so there’s no way Teddie could just take it off or loose it. Not yet used them as they have only just been delivered but hopefully, it will put my mind at rest as I was seriously looking at GPS devices for him to wear!

We have a busy few weeks ahead of us, this morning we have Alfie’s sports day, that brings a million of and one problem’s. I was hoping it would be on a Wednesday as Teddie will be a preschool all day but it’s not, I’m sure all will be fine and I have the support of Gareth so fingers crossed.

Thursday Teddie has lunch at ‘big school’, we had the option for him to have school dinners or packed lunch, I’ve gone with pack up, I know he’ll eat all that I put in without any fuss, hopefully. Still, cannot believe he’ll be starting school September.

I started a few new topics this week, Word Bingo, match the 2 & 3D shapes and practice tracing letters & curved lines. I’m very lucky Teddie loves to try new things, his ability to remember everything is amazing, he just gets topics like that. (Word Bingo video)

Next Tuesday We are seeing a specialist teacher with Teddie’s therapist, hoping we can get some ground work done ready for his start to school September. He already has a great support system at school but the more support the better I say.

Week Friday Gareth and I are away for the night for our friend’s wedding. My parents are staying at our’s, mainly so we don’t have to pay for the dogs to stay in kennels plus everything Teddie needs PECS wise is all set up at ours but mainly for the dogs lol.

I’ve added life with a bear to Instagram a few weeks ago and I love it, there is so much support on their with so many people going through the same thing. Unfortunately, most of the accounts aren’t in the UK but still good to see how others do things. I wonder every day if Teddie will ever talk in sentences, We will always be his voice but we cannot be with him all the time. I know he has a good impression on other kids his age as the preschool mums always say their child talks about Teddie all the time.

Teddie continues to amaze us every day, we wouldn’t have our Bear any other way!

 

 

 

Days like today I feel I’m banging my head against a wall! It’s not even 10 am and I’m feeling like its Friday afternoon already, Stressed!
This morning was going so well until I got a miss phone call from Alfie’s school. All sorts were running through my head, I have just let him walk to school on his own as we live just round the corner from the school. I thought the school was gonna tell me he’s been knocked over! He didn’t thank God but I had put Teddie’s lunch box in Alfie’s bag. I couldn’t believe it, this is gonna ruin the day!
I stood with my toothbrush in a mouth and wanted to scream, how did I put the wrong lunch box in Alf’s bag.
I could have sent Teddie into school with Alf’s lunch box but he’d get upset as he knows it’s Alfie’s, instead I ran the gauntlet to school,
It ended how I knew it would, Teddie got so upset we weren’t bringing Alfie home, even though it was 9.15. I gave him a big mummy hug which worked until we passed the reception class, he thought he was going in. Roll on September!!!!

We have had some lovely days out with all the family as it’s been so hot, not complaining. Teddie has gone to preschool in shorts every day with only the odd meltdown.

We brought a new pool for the garden, Teddie wasn’t sure at first but we now can’t get him out of it, in fact, we have all been in it! Teddie has gone from wanting to get in the pool but not get wet ( good luck with that one) to jumping in fully clothed (not even bothered about his clothes being wet). He’s even gone in the pool with no clothes on, progress!

All theses thing are sent to test us all, but we would never want our bear any different!

Yesterday was one of the bad days, was testing for all but mainly me. The week started off very much like last week did- visit the doctors but this time with Alfie.

Teddie was well behaved in the surgery, think he’s used to it now.  He seems to always head straight for the weighing scales, not sure where he gets that from. We were in there minutes so headed to the pharmacy to get drops for Alfie’s eye then headed to the school- that’s where the problem began.

Once we said goodbye to Alfie and started to head out the school Teddie realised Alfie wasn’t coming with us. Naughty mummy forgot to take a reinforcer so poor Teddie cried from the minute Alfie walked through the school door till we got home, the distance isn’t far but felt like miles when you dealing with it.

Everything from there seemed to annoy him, he banged everything he played with, lunch wasn’t right, generally, everything was an issue for him.

I had a school meeting in the afternoon which I had been dreading for days but more so yesterday as he seemed to be annoyed my everything.  Teddie was good as gold while we were there, he played with Alfie and all the other kids while us adults were in the meeting.

I could see Teddie needed to go to the toilet but every time I asked he said ‘no’.  I knew he needed one, so I took his hand and headed to the downstairs toilet. For some reason, he was absolutely petrified of the toilet, I let him go back to play with the others but knew he still needed to go. I decided to take him upstair’s to the toilet in the hope he wouldn’t have an issue with that one, as I carried him upstairs I have never seen fear on anyone’s face as much as I did on Teddie’s, as much as I wanted to let him go I had to put him on the toilet as he had been holding it in for ages. I manage to get him onto the toilet, reassuring him constantly. He seemed relieved to have gone for a wee but couldn’t get out the door quick enough. We stopped outside the door and had a big cuddle and told him how proud of him I was.

I could see Teddie was holding himself so I decided to take him upstair’s to the toilet in the hope he wouldn’t have an issue with that one. As I carried him upstairs I have never seen fear on anyone’s face as much as I did on Teddie’s, he screamed and screamed, he was so frightened.

As much as I wanted to let him go I had to put him on the toilet as he had been holding it in for ages.  I manage to get him onto the toilet, reassuring him constantly. He seemed relieved to have gone for a wee but couldn’t get out the door quick enough. We stopped outside the door and had a big cuddle and told him how proud of him I was.

He has never been like that before, Although it was a new environment Teddie showed no other signs of anxiety other than going to the toilet, I hope this was a one-off as hated seeing him so frightened.

 

I started writing mainly to keep myself from going insane, writing how I felt was like the magic pill the doctor gives you.  Although I felt sick with worry wondering what people would think or react to how I was feeling it actually turn me into this possessed parent who needs the best for their child.

Since writing Life with a bear I’ve never really spoken about the rest of us in the family, mainly Harvey and Alfie, they are a massive part of their brothers’ journey.
Harvey is our older son, he is 14 going on 21, as must as I wanna kick his head in at times he’s a really good lad who generally has his head screwed on but we do have days where we wonder….
Alfie is our middle son who never stops asking a question, nearly every sentence that leaves his lips starts with mum can I ask you something or 3 things, mum. He asks a question all the time, Take last week for an example we were out walking the dogs, Alfie asks: If you were a WWE wrestler what would your name be? Is there a megalodon shark alive today, Why do dolphins have long noses and why do we get thunder and lighting?  As much as I love filling him the facts it’s all so much in one go, I have learnt the art of nodding just at the right time.

Together I couldn’t ask for better brothers for Teddie, Harvey and Alfie are brilliant with him, they know everything Gareth and I know.                                                                       Harvey asked me once if there was something wrong with Teddie, I cannot actually remember what my reply was I just remember telling him its ok to be different.

I’ve always been the one who starts and implements new things for Teddie, Gareth and the boys just do it without question, it’s half the battle if everyone is on the same page.