Sally's World

Okay, so I was over at ‘who says 8 is enough’ (http://bouffard11.blogspot.com/2009/04/out-of-mouths-of-babes.html) earlier and her interview with her son was fantastic, it inspired me. I’ve been tagged on this one several times…so I got the kids to interview Deion on how he feels about me…(doing the sign of the cross and looking heavenwards as we speak) well, we were already on the subject or Deion embarassing me...so better to get it out of the way!!!

1. What is something mom always says to you?
“You can be anything you want to be” oh, and “do you need to do a poo before we go?”

2. What makes mom happy?
She likes cuddles and when I do well at school, she is very happy when someone wins a lot of money in deal or no deal.

3. What makes mom sad?
If we argue, if people drive like total idiots and if we fart or burp in a restaurant (making stabbing motions in my chest now)

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
By tickling, or pulling silly faces, or when she tells me something silly we saw in a film.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
I think she was very tidy and never answered her mum back, cos she tells us she would never have been able to get away with those things, and she always ate all her vegetables, even if she didn’t like them so she wasn’t ungrateful.

6. How old is your mom?
She’s 40 this year, but doesn’t want a party cos then she won’t be able to lie about her age.

7. How tall is your mom?
Very tall for a girl, but not as tall as dad.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
She likes going to the park and she reads a lot of books, she writes on the computer, her favorite thing is to go on holiday and swim in the sea.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
She drinks tea I think. (???)

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
For writing a book and for killing plants. (huh?????)

11. What is your mom really good at?
Cooking, cleaning, shopping, making superhero costumes, and I think driving fast.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Football, basketball, cricket, baseball, running, jumping, riding a bike, hoola hoop, skipping, rugby, high jump, long jump, skateboarding ice skating, roller blading, she has a bad aim, netball, volley ball, tennis, badminton (I had to shut him up at this point, I was getting depressed)

13. What does your mom do for a job?
She sells t-shirts and helps children go to the dolphins, but I don’t think she gets paid for that, she looks after us all, and she cooks a lot, I think she gets paid by my dad.

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Chocolate cake (oh yeah!!!)

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Ermm, she lets my friends come round and gives us lots to eat.

16. if your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Mum would want to be wonder woman but I don’t think so. (thanks Dee)

17. What do you and your mom do together?
We go swimming, watch films, play computer, she takes me to the park and visiting, we have to go to the bank sometimes, and shopping, we go to a lot of appointments and have picnics in the waiting rooms so I don’t get bored or hungry.

18. How are you and your mom the same?
We’re not really, she says I’m mad like dad!

19. How are you and your mom different?
She’s a girl silly, and, like, old! (thanks Dee)

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
She tells me every day, and she didn’t come to school dressed like wonder woman when I asked her not to. She makes me my favorite food.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
She beats him at scrabble (okay, this one’s true)

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Bimini to swim with dolphins.

You may laugh...you think its easy...but its not...I set you a challenge!!! if you're nerves are up to it, ask your child and let us know what they say lol!

Now, Deion is of an age where he might want some independence from me. As much as I hate to admit it, he is growing up. There are various clubs and activities for special needs children and children in wheelchairs within the borough. There are also some services that would make his life a little easier.

I decided to find out about this and spoke to the relevant department within Lewisham council. I had to write in and actually refer Deion as a disabled child within the borough; I then had to fill in several lengthy forms. I guess I just presumed that Deion was on the system…but it’s a different system.

Then, yesterday, I had to have a family support worker from disabled services come out to the house to meet Deion and interrogate...sorry...interview me (for two hours)to make sure I wasn’t telling fibs…I kid you not.

The guy was perfectly helpful; he was actually quite apologetic because it is very obvious that everything I said on the forms was correct. I did say that I felt that the system was slightly over the top, it all seemed a bit much just to find out about a few services that Deion should probably have been getting for years anyway.

I had also already provided a list of all the professionals involved in Deion’s care, from neurologists, to physios, to the GP…any one of them could have confirmed the facts.

He did explain though, that in cases like ours, it seems over the top, but there are so many people that abuse the system, it is necessary. I guess this is the problem. There are thousands of people out there claiming all sorts of services and benefits for children who are not actually disabled. He even quoted a few cases some statistics…it was quite scary.

This is where the problem lies; it is the people that abuse the system who make it hard for the families that really need the services. It is incredible to think that a parent would say their child is disabled when they are not, there are some that do it for attention, some that do it for significance, some do it for money, or to get something for free. Perhaps they feel that as the system is flawed in other areas, they make up for it this way. But it’s simply wrong.

So because of those people, there are kids missing out, and at the very least there are parents having to jump through hoops just to get the relevant information.

A certain saying springs to mind “be careful what you wish for.”

Now, if Deion’s lucky, within six weeks, they should write back to me and tell me if Deion qualifies for any disabled services…I won’t be holding my breath though!

Take care, have a great day

Sal xxx