[ali12]

Hi everyone,

Thank you all so much for all of your help and support with my return back into school, I truly do appreciate it!

I started back at school yesterday, I am only going to school for the first 2 periods (lessons) of the day at the moment. I am getting on OK although I am still VERY nervous as I haven't met all of the children yet. Because of my condition, the school have allowed someone to come in and give me some additional support. This person helps me with my bags and books, let's me out of lessons early, helps me in class if I am struggeling etc. Because I need this additional support, the school have had to drop me down sets so instead of being in set 1 (The top set) for English, I am now in Set 3 which I don't think is really fair. My mom spoke to the school today and they said that they are going to try and get me back into the set's that I should be in with my friends. The Science class that I am in at the moment is pretty bad, all the children do is run, scream, shout etc so we can never get any work done!! I forgot how loud and noisey school is after not going for almost 2 years lol.

My friends are helping me with things thankfully, although they want to run around and I obviously can't as I am on crutches. It's really annoying when people keep saying "What is up with you? Why does your leg rotate outwards and why does it shake so much?", but I guess it is just something I have to get used to, I knew to expect that anyhow. I was in form today and there was only one seat left next to one of my "friends" so my form teacher asked my "friend" if I could sit next to her and she said "NO, SHE CAN NOT!!". I couldn't believe it when she said that and it really upset me. The girl that said that thinks that she has RSD too and she keeps asking me what the symptoms of RSD are, she has even been to see my PM Doctor who told her that she doesn't have RSD and that she should stop faking it. Somehow, she is jealous of the fact that I get out of class early, I just can't understand why anyone would want RSD!!!

Most of my teachers are OK and are understanding. They allow me to sit at the back or the front of the class so that my leg wont get knocked etc and explain things to me which is good. Obviously some of the teachers aren't that understanding but the Disabillity Teacher told me that if I have any problems I have to go and see her and she will sort things out. I saw the school's Psychologist today and she asked how I was getting on, I told her not too bad but I was really tired and she said that she would try and help me cope with that.

I am still going to have my home tuition. My tutor came on Tuesday to help me with a few things and he is going to come again tomorrow to help me with my homework - I have a stack of it to do!! Hopefully my teachers should be understanding if I can't get it all in on time. If the transition back into school doesn't go as well as we hope, I can have 3 nights a week of home tuiton. The school's going to be lead by how I feel so when I feel up to it, they will allow me to come back into school for more hours.

I will keep you all updated. I am going to go lay down now as I am so exhausted, sorry for rambling on and on!!

Take care, Alison

[bassman]

Ali,

When your classmates ask "what is up with you?" and so on, I hope that in reality they are just expressing a natural curiosity and, in their own way, have some concern for you. Do not forget that as children grow and mature, they are still learning about proper social skills and how to express their feelings. Someone who said that might have been uncomfortable and not sure how to speak to you. Same thing with your so-called "friend" who said you could not sit next to her. She may have been unsure how to interact with you.

As I am sure you have noticed, at age 13 young people have all different levels of maturity and wisdom. You seem to be very mature for your age. Others may take a while to "catch up." This is common. If a classmate acts rude to you, remember that they are faced with a scary thing here as well -- a person who cannot run around and play the same way they do. There may also be some subconscious thought that they, too could become "disabled" like you. This may cause people to say or do inappropriate things.

I hope that, as classmates get used to you being there, some of them will figure out that you really are no different on the inside as they are. It may take several weeks, but I believe it will happen. You may even find that your "old friends" are not the ones to accept you, but a whole different bunch of kids. You will probably find some good friends for life.

Hang in there,

Mike

[ali12]

Thanks Mike.

This "Friend" of mine that said that I couldn't sit next to her is extremely mature for her age also, she acts like she is about 17, not 13 so I don't believe that in her case the way she acted is because she is immature. Her Aunty suffers from MS so she has been brought up around people's illnesses and knows how to deal with them in most cases. When I was first diagnosed with RSD, she was great and very supportive but now she isn't interested. I'm starting to think that she was only supportive then because she wanted to know exacly what the symptoms of RSD were so that she could try and fake them also. I was waiting to go in the class today and she spoke to everyone on the coridoor, but me which made me think that she was trying to make a point, I smiled and tried to talk to her and she gave me a really dirty look and walked away. I am not that worried, i'm just going to try and ignore her behaivour but obviously if it continues I will have to tell someone.

Thanks once again,
Alison

[dennyfan]

Ali, That "friend" who is being mean to you isn't a friend and is not worth your time. If she does or says anything to you thats inappropriate I would tell someone right away but otherwise I would just stay as far away from her as I could get. You can't make people have good manners hun. She sounds like someone who needs lots of attention. And if she went to your pm doc faking RSD symptoms there is something very wrong with that girls head. I hope the rest of the kids treat you good & school is enjoyable & isn't too much. I think getting out of the house & having some normal kid activity would be good for someone your age. Heck it would be good for anyone who has been housebound. Hang in there though. The kids will get used to your condition. They will get there questions answered & hopefully it will just be normal to them. I also hope your teachers treat you with kindness. Take care.
hugs, denny

[Twinkletoes]

So happy you are able to return to school. Too bad the reception from the children wasn't better. But as Bassman pointed out, you'll likely attract a whole new group of friends who will be loyal and protective of you.

You have much to be grateful for, particularly the love and concern of your Mum. I can think of a few other board members who were not so fortunate. Their parents were much like your friends: confused and uncertain how to deal with their child who was "different."

It will take some time to develop a new circle of friends, but I know it will happen for you, cutie. You have such a special sparkle about you.