Bit of a problem

[sherrardk]

Youngest son has got a 'place' at a speech therapy group - it is held twice a week for two hours and you have to go to both sessions. I can stay with him or leave him there (I will stay as he won't stay on his own). However, I have no one to look after his twin sister (when he went to speech therapy before the holidays it was an hour, one-to-one session, once a week) and my friend very kindly looked after my daughter. I don't feel I can ask her to look after her again (as she will say yes but I feel it is a cheek). They don't go to nursery so I can't take my daughter there and my husband is self-employed and can't afford to take the time off. Do you think I could ask if I can take my daughter with us? The boy really is not progressing and needs help so I can't not go to the speech therapy session either. Any thoughts gratefully received.

[annie0000]

no probs, just signing out - was that you chatting to Sara on FB about chocolate? I am on sara's list if you want to add me - wearing a turqoise cardi in photo.

[sherrardk]

Hi Maidup - haven't asked her yet! Just know she will say yes because she knows the situation, but just feel it's a bit too much to ask. My daughter behaves lovely when she is there (or so my friend says), just find it difficult asking for help.

[tamborine]

Your son needs to be helped individually & without his siblings prompting etc. Surely your friend will help with caring as she might need your help some time.

Adopt a local granny - I did; my best friend ever. There's lots of grans at bus stops :)

[islasmum]

I'd definitely ask your friend to help, offer her money if you feel more comfortable with that and you can always return the favour when she may want your help in the future. as she knows your circumstances I'm sure that she will be happy to help. I hope that the speech therapy helps your son, my friend's son went to speech and language from an early age, and he's so much better and more outgoing now he can be understood by people outside him family circle. Good luck.

[joko]

its worth a try, they may have a side room she can play in for a the duration...take some colouring books etc to keep her busy and quiet...

you could even say that he wont settle without knowing shes near as theyre twins...a wee white lie but theyre more likely to make allowances then

i am sure you are not the firts parent to have had a problem

[jkelly24]

This sounds very similar to the type of speech therapy group my son attended a few years ago. We had to stay but were in a room next door and watched through two way glass and heard through a speaker system and yes some parents took siblings who stayed with them in the other room. They took their own toys, books, crayons etc to enterain them and the speech therapists were very welcoming. The speech therapy group itself was run similar to a playgroup situation i.e tables with different activities sand and water singing and storytime but with a larger number of staff who were all speech therapists. This worked wonders for my son who attended 3 sessions a week for 1 school term. I hope they do let you and your daughter stay because I am sure it will help your son. Best of luck, its a long haul but he will be fine with the right help and support.

[sherrardk]

Quick update - spent the afternoon with my friend and our children today. Just chatting in general and she mentioned about the boy going for the intensive speech therapy and she didn't mention looking after my daughter so I think can assume that it is too much of a commitment for her. I don't want to damage our friendship by asking her now and 'putting her on the spot' so I will ring the speech people on Monday and see if I can take my daughter along for the first couple of sessions (and hopefully my son will soon get the confidence to stay on his own - although I won't go too far so I can get back to him really quickly if he becomes distressed.) Thanks for all of your opinions and thoughts, x.

[cazzz1975]

when my boys were young my older boy had to go to speech,lang and play therapy, I used to bring my younger son as well as I had no option, they were fine with it.

im sure they have come across this before x

[erin-x]

Hi Sherrardk :) Don't think anyone has mentioned it yet but what about a local childminder? There's usually quite a few in local newspapers that are quite reasonable. When I was on placement at nursery, a lot of the children would be dropped off and picked up by their childminder. x

[sherrardk]

Hi Erin - that's an idea. Will have a think about it (bit wary of childminders as boy #1 went to one and she put me off!). I will see if there is one in the village that I actually know (not many working mums around here so I will see what I can find). Thanks.

[erin-x]

No problem.. I was looking into doing some childminding but i've nowhere to take them! lol.. I don't think my dad would appreciate screaming kids when he comes home on his lunch hour lol x