Seems like a good time to express my views on the continuing americanisation of our culture (ok, i know Halloween is orginally from Ireland) and deterioration of the younger generations knowledge and appreciation of their own history.

But hey, X-factor is back on.

Personally, I am loving the fact that my chronological clock is catching up with my emotional one. That is, I am almost old enough to justify being this grumpy.

I have found that nothing raises the caveman in me than seeing my kids maltreated by someone else. So I guess that doesn’t get any easier as they get older, eh?

But we would be doing them a disservice to always leap in and resolve it for them. It’s all about teaching them strategies for doing it themselves.

So as hard as it is mate, you are doing the right thing in teaching him how to deal with this shit himself. There are plenty of people using whatever power they can find to overcome their own insecurities, so he is learning a valuable lesson.

And then when the teenager has left high school you can go back and punch The Coach on the nose.

My son also had to go to OT. We had been waiting 4 years as there are not too many therapists in the UK, partly due to the prevailing archaic attitudes to such things. He had been diagnosed as having fine motor skills difficulties, which were preventing him from being able to write and draw to his full potential. We had spoken with lots of people in the “industry” ourselves and put him through the same kind of exercises they would have, and by the time he finally got his OT appointment he was no longer in need of OT (thankfully)!

While I have nothing but praise for the NHS in general, in areas such as OT it remains well behind the times in terms of the needs of the population. But, I suppose the same is true for anything which is not related to physical illness. As we move further into the 21st century, the NHS needs to become more aware, and focus a little more on prevention. It will then have less need to focus on cure.

I wish your daughter and you every success in her OT journey, and look forward to the occasional read of this journey. In the meantime I am off to acquire Snow Leopard and prepare for tomorrow’s visit of Birmingham to The Lane.

So many hugs to you and yuor family, and I’m happy that she’s going to be all good, all ok.. and this will help. It’ll be fun for her, trust me, and maybe even, a little, make your life easier and happier also, which YOU need. Whatever tools we’re given, we should make use of! And don’t you worry about “labels”. Let them put whatever label on her they want. It won’t matter. Because in the end, the RESULTS are what matter, and for us, the results have been nothing short of astounding. For you as well, they will be And no, it’s not due to ANY inadequacy on your part. Whatsoever. In fact by reaching out you proved what a great Dad you really are, and how much you care, and love her Now she’s going to have those tools in her toolbox, indeed! And you may be able, eventually, to relax with a nice cup of tea!! LOL!

And remember my offer.. now you know about my son, you might know how indeed awesome my daughter is,.. and how well she deals with it all .. kind of rare in a kid, to know and be able to deal with gifted, different kids! So take us up on it if you ever feel it’s time for a break. Hugs again to all of you!

Beer, cards and footy on the telly with no interuptions (I actually thought of you as Spurs destroyed the scousers).

I returned promising myself that I would be more patient with my little darlings.

A promise which lasted about as long as your average New Years resolution.

Jetlag and toddlers makes for an explosive mix. They will be scanning for that at airports soon.

OK, you got one!

Cerveza Frio Por fovor!

I wrote about the person I knew and how she impacted my life.
It wasn’t in a horrible way, it was in a wonderful way.
If she impacted your life in a horrible way, then I’m sorry for that, but consider the fact that nobody has impacted anyone’s life harder (and more horribly) than the FATHER OF HER DAUGHTER who beat her (that is THE FATHER’S DAUGHTER’S MOTHER) to death. Some impact I’d say. Sadly. Tragically.

Again, I don’t know your circumstances and thus will not say anything about that other than whatever pain you have (obviously) endured I’m sorry for.

But as long as you understand WHY I wrote what I wrote. I don’t care that you disagree with it, just understand WHY.

At the end of the day, I’m sure there will be others who, like yourself, will not feel sympathetic towards her. But let me leave you with this…did she ever repeatedly punch anyone? Repeatedly abuse anyone? And did any behavior she displayed ever warrant being beaten to death? You know the answer and so do I…

Best Wishes…