Nuclear fallout

Yet again, a long gap has been permeated by a number of disasters/events some of which were mildly inconvenient (crashing the car and driving a Micra rather than a seven seater...), some of which have had long lasting and damaging repercussions (our overnight respite carer requiring 3 months sick leave). I could list the trials and tribulations of the last six months but worry you'll get bored and leave! So I'll briefly outline here we are at the moment, and hope youll see why it feels like Chernobyl...

We had a very difficult Christmas, not that it is ever easy with James, but for no clear reason this one broke us. Well, for us read my husband. He has been a dedicated, level headed father throughout the last 5 plus years when it comes to dealing with James. He can't be faulted (though I try!). He has previously maintained that James belongs with us at home and has never entertained the idea of him living elsewhere. So it was a huge change in tempo when over Christmas he conceded that the time had come to start to consider residential schools for James. Sometimes the battle to get a child a residential placement is around finding somewhere that can meet their needs. In our case it is likely that the battle will be around proving James would benefit from a residential setting, but we're collecting our ammunition and pulling rank. We have an educational review at the start of next term - let battle commence...

The strain that the Christmas period put on all of us led us to plan to request a review of our social care package. We feel that given james' level of need and the fact he needs continuous one to one support during waking hours, we need a substantial support package, in part to ensure James' safety and the safety of the rest of the family but also to allow us to recharge our batteries and have a few moments of "normal" family life. Unfortunately, our request has fallen on deaf ears and we are now in stale mate withsocial services who feel we exaggerate James' difficulties in order to manipulate them into providing more services. Nothing could be further from the truth but they are adamant. We are likely to have to go to mediation to sort that out...

So yes, we're in a nuclear bunker dealing with radioactive fallout at the moment. I'm hoping we'll survive, we have to, but I hope we'll all be intact...