one proud mum!!!!! - well done Catherine

i know i said a while ago it would be a long time before i came on here again - especially after it was mentioned that all i seemed to do was to air my personal problems - well this is NOT about me - this is about my daughter.

Catherine was diagnosed with moderate to mild learning difficulties at the age of two - she did not speak a word until she was 3 - at one time they thought she would be a mute (elective) - meaning she chose not to talk. She also has problems in taking in complex instructions - so things have to be said slower so she has a chance

She was diagnosed with dysfluency - meaning she struggles to get her words out - she has a stammer which thanks to a certain amount of help from the authorities and myself and her dad - she has just about overcome this - it only shows when she is under pressure.

She was in a special education stream and is now is mainstream with normal ability pupils - when she was 6 they offered to keep her back a year to do year 2 of infants again - we chose not to do this - preferring her to stay with peers of her age and normal ability and the gamble has paid off big time.

She is on the special educational needs register and has extra help in school as and when needed but as time goes on she is now requiring less and less - a testimony to her hard work - the school's and ours.

When we realised Catherine needed extra help her dad and I decided not to have anymore children - her needs came before ours - and also i could have had twins - as i am one myself. this would not have been good with a child that needed extra support.

all in all she has come a very long way and next year will be going into senior school - she will still be kept an eye on until its felt its no longer needed.

All i want to say is that her dad and i are so proud of what she has acheived and we could not wish for a better daughter.

you need to praise her.  Let her know you're proud.

we certaibly do that - this week she had full marks in a mental maths test (multiplication tables) and also in a spelling test.

this is the one thing that encourages her is praise and we are always full of that for her.

(Sorry if this sounds big headed) but i just cant help it when it comes to how well she is doing and how far she has come

It's not bigheaded. You're a great mum and she's lucky to have you.

I hope she continues to thrive. You have every reason to be proud of her, and of yourselves!!! :)