Young people today ....

speedalong
speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
edited 18. Jun 2010, 03:35 in Community Chit-chat archive
... are often truly FAB!!

Yesterday evening took S to youth club. He got turned down for the ASD youth club (long story - due to the ignorance of the speech therapists who had set it up,) so he attends a mainstream club. Actually they inadvertantly did him a big favour!!

A group of three young leaders (youth club members who are given more responsibility) approached the youth leader to say they would like to befriend/mentor S!!! They spent the evening socialising with him - they all had a ball!!! S was laughing and loving the attention from "mates" and the young people were loving the fact that they were making S so happy. The communication, eye contact (big challenge for someone with ASD) and connection between them was superb!! No adult intervention needed.

Wish I had had a video there to show S's school ... they could have learnt a thing or two off the young leaders ...

S came home feeling confident and successful and I felt so proud of him and his new "mates."

Speedy
I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.

Comments

  • valval
    valval Member Posts: 14,911
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    there are lots of great youngsters out there who go out of there way to help others but you never hear of them so glad the evening went well for your son he will look foward to going again val
    val
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    The good always outnumber the bad, but they are not news-worthy. I am so glad he had a good time, the world is a frightening and confusing place for many people, more so for autistics. You are doing something right too, speedalong. He's a lucky boy. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • biddybeth
    biddybeth Member Posts: 45
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    So pleased for you Speedy. There are some really nice kids out there. So glad S had such a good time. Beth
  • angel1
    angel1 Bots Posts: 1,464
    edited 16. Jun 2010, 19:01
    Great youngsters Speedy, but I suspect that`s because they`ve probably got great parents........... as S has!.

    All kids have "special" needs in my opinion. The need for their parents love and their time. Give them this and they won`t go far wrong......Ange.
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Val, DD, Ange, Beth and Lynn, thank you for sharing our pleasure. These young people have definitely learnt acceptance and how to value others from somewhere ... good parenting is crucial isn't it.?No point having children if you aren't prepared to do your best ... and give them time.

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • Wonkylegs
    Wonkylegs Member Posts: 3,504
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    speedalong wrote:
    No point having children if you aren't prepared to do your best ... and give them time.

    Speedy

    more or less what hubby and I said to each other today having heard what his SIL had said to their eldest girl (15) who is being difficult.

    Parents certainly reap what they sow ......... hard work comes back to benefit them, and sadly the opposite is also the case.
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Speedy,

    Really glad that they took him under their wing and S enjoyed his self :D I think young people are great really, I am glad you and S have found that to be the case.

    Is it weekly (you may have said but got a bit of eye blur today I am afraid :oops: ) So pleased he enjoyed it! Cris xx
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Wonky - I hope things improve for your troubled niece.

    Hi Cris - it is weekly, yes.

    Another young person at youth club story ... I was sat on the sofa at youth club with S a few months ago. One of the young people walked past - you know how they do - bit of a swagger/ shoulder sway thing going on - trying the "I'm so cool and nonchalant" look. The young person looked at me, winked and said, "Alright babe!!" Made my night!!

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I am so pleased that they treated him like the lovely boy he is. My older son is currently in middle ground and it so difficult to know where to go next. He is higher functioning but cos of anger issues I couldnt let him go to a party as I knew he would kick off and the parents and friends would see the difficult, scary side of him and wouldnt know how to deal with it. Yet i wanted him to have fun and mix with other children.
    But he wont go to ASD clubs-I think because of the noise and also because he doesnt feel he is autistic!
    I am scared to let him out alone as he has some issues others would exploit.
    Best wishes to Speedy and S....
    Elizabeth,
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    How old is your older boy tkachev? Teenaged years are fraught at the best of times, without the complication of autism. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • dippydoodah
    dippydoodah Member Posts: 350
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    what a lovely story. i do believe there are alot of good kids out there they just dont get the recognition they deserve. im glad you've found somewhere were he can be happy.

    alot of the children/teens on our estate are given a bad press but when you actually talk to them, theyre ok. when i was pregnant, many of them kindly moved out of my way on the path to let me through.... not a sign of bad kids surely xx
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi speedy
    How lovely that S is getting so much out of the young people at the club, young people dont get enough praise for what they do, sadly Its the times we live in, the poor things all get painted with the same brush has they say.
    I am sure they will enjoy seeing S getting so much out of it, It will make it all worth while.
    love
    Barbara xx
    Love
    Barbara
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    dreamdaisy wrote:
    How old is your older boy tkachev? Teenaged years are fraught at the best of times, without the complication of autism. DD

    He is just 12 DD. At the moment he prefers to be at home with his laptop but he did really want to go that party!

    Elizabeth
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    On the cusp - lordy lordy. If he's happy at home with a laptop then that's dandy. He might well try when he feels ready - such meetings can be quite an ordeal. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Yes im not pushing it. We did send him to canoeing, kayaking, sailing on Sunday, at a special needs day. He wasnt very happy about going but when he got home he said brilliant. Funnily enough a ASD after school club has just started( got an Email today). There is IT equipment and music studio equipment. I ll see if I can persuade him to attend.

    My apologies to Speedy for KEEP interrupting her posts with my own probs. I dont like to post a new thread for myself, then i see something relevent so stick my nose in. I will try to stop doing this.

    Regards
    Elizabeth
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    You are not the only sinner, tho most do it the other way around: they post a new thread on something that's been running many times over already! It doesn't matter how you alert us, tkachev, just as long as you do. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • speedalong
    speedalong Member Posts: 3,315
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Don't be daft Elizabeth. S loves his laptop too ... So do a lot of us on here - for that matter!!

    At the ASD youth club it was great for ASD youngsters - quiet, not crowded, internet access, pool, art stuff, tuck shop, games for individuals/pairs/groups .. S loved it. Luckily the mainstream club is almost the same ... only downside is it is band practise night ... S copes by keeping all the doors closed and wearing his ear plugs ...

    Speedy
    I have had OA since mid twenties. It affects my hips and knees. I had a THR on the left aged 30 and now have a resurface-replacement on the right - done May 2010.
  • tkachev
    tkachev Member Posts: 8,332
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh yes Daniel would go blue in the face if there was band practice.
    The ASD club sounds great but is quite a drive away. Luckily it matches a club Daniel attends reasonably close but means the OH will need to hang around for an hour or two. I havent asked him yet as new term for Dans club not yet confirmed. Theyll probably change the day.That will mess my plans up.
    When I get Dans confirmation I will ask Jack and OH what they think,


    Elizabeth
    Never be bullied into silence.
    Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
    Accept no ones definition of your life

    Define yourself........

    Harvey Fierstein

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