Post by jmk on Oct 19, 2017 15:51:41 GMT
A good friend of mine has just had her first book published which is her own personal account of her battle to get help, support, and education for her disabled son. It is a true and accurate summary of the struggles we parents have to go through in order to get our children the help they deserve. She has supported me through my own trials and tribulations for the past 16 years and her support and sense of humour have kept me afloat on many occasions when I was about to go under. Although she moved out of my area 10 years ago, we still speak weekly, sometimes for hours on end, thanks to BT infinity, and without her I might not be here.
It would be great if any of you wanted to purchase her book for a good heartfelt and even fun read. Book costs £6.99 and is available from Amazon. See link below. Reviews would be greatly appreciated if you do decide to read it as it was only published on friday, hence me promoting it for her as she is way to modest to do so herself. If you like it, spread the word.
Below is one of her poems which she has given me permission to post on here for anyone who wants to copy it to send to their SW's or other professionals involved in your childrens care to maybe get them to think and actually do half of what they promise to do. (Please include her name if copying, to give her credit).
A Parent’s View - by Annette Koshti Richman
We hoped for joined up thinking
So a meeting was called
It didn’t quite resolve things
In fact we felt it stalled
The professionals all chatted
They discussed and they explored
But as far as any action
It was basically quite flawed
For each and every month
We sat around the room
Promising and procrastinating
Filling our hearts with doom
If all those promises happened
And therapy and advice given
We would not be here again
Our lives fulfilled and driven
But instead at each meeting
The action points are noted
The reminders written down
And deadlines are all quoted
Promises never come to fruition
The minutes are sent out
Our lives go off the radar
And we end up with nowt
And thank you all for asking
The summer holidays have been hell
Please do not sit there thinking
We have been coping well
Chasing, coping, worrying
Our lives are full of dread
Wishing someone, somewhere
Would action what they said
So for now I’ve said my piece
I will sit and participate
Smiling politely about those
Who've sent apologies quite late
We appreciate you are busy
And have other families to care
But we are really struggling
And tearing out our hair
So instead of going home tonight
Thinking great, the meetings done
Remember we are going home
With our ‘complex’ unhappy son
A son that should be happy
Who should be getting support
But instead is being fobbed off
With yet another report
We expect very little now
From what the experts do
Because the ones that really care
Sadly are really rather few
The resources are always limited
It really isn’t their role
Another meetings' pressing
Pass round that begging bowl
So for now let the meeting start
Think about what you say
Go away and deliver
Make a difference for our son today