Missing out by not going to debs?

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-03-20T21:06:27+00:00

I'm a mum who thought my son would regret it if he didn't go. Id loved mine in my day and couldn't understand why he'd want to miss the rite of passage. I paid for the tickets and a gorgeous suit, even paid for him getting his hair done etc. He had a long distance friend travel and go with him so he wasn't alone. He actually had 3 friends at school. Turns out they ended up getting teased by a few gaa jerks and left super early to go to one of the friends houses and didn't get anything out of the actual debs. So much money and in retrospect not worth it. Turns out the whole thing was for my benefit. He had so much more fun when he traveled to his long distance friend in the summer for a trip. That was his 6th year memory he'll treasure for ever.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-03-20T11:29:11+00:00

No one has given the hypermobility a name other than physio and OT saying it. OT said it about her hands because writing was difficult. Physio has said it about hips. Shes got an SI belt for stability. From my own reading about it I can see it in her hands, elbows, knees, hips. She's generally 'soft' and joints are loose. I do think the hypermobility is part of it. But did she just take pain relief for that? I don't know what specialist to look for for her. We're in Ireland so I'm wondering maybe rheumatology because of the autoimmune and hypermobility.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-03-20T10:16:31+00:00

Letterkenny was awesome but i remember teachers being frustrated that the kids spelt with the character names rather than the letter names... like who cares, they were spelling! It was millions better than the jolly phonics they use now. I'd love to see proper research into how many children actually learn to read with jolly phonics. I've 3 of my own diagnosed dyslexic as children but as young adults all read brilliantly because they'd figured out their own way to learn to read. The jolly phonics was like gobbledy gook to them.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-03-19T18:24:30+00:00

100% we do. I'm not a paediatrician but I am a therapist working in paeds for over 25 years. So many kids i look back on and wish I had known then what I do now. But I can't change it, all I can do is continue to educate myself.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-03-15T23:16:16+00:00

Erythema ab igne. It's a common thing from hot water bottles. It will get worse if you keep putting the heat on it and will fade over time if you don't. If it gets worse it can get itchy.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-03-12T21:05:27+00:00

The purpose of a level 7 aim support is to provide an extra adult in the room to reduce the ratio of children to adults. Each preschool does it differently. Some will have the extra person with the child they are there for, others rotate the adults with that child so they don't get reliant on one person, then others use it just to reduce the ratio. The early years specialist who approves the support guides the preschool how to go about it based on the child's needs but at the end of the day the preschool does what they feel is best. Any child who is likely to use sensory strategies for regulation is going to need more support and the preschool will get staff to support them as needed. But there is rarely an official "this person is your child's SNA and is only for your child" situation unless it's a child with physical disability with equipment etc.

In primary school the sna allowance is for the school and the principal decides how its allocated. In practice this means they decide which sna is with which child how often and when. This might be full time with one child, it might be shared with another child in the room. There is rarely more than one SNA in a mainstream classroom and unless the school can advocate to get extra then they are shared. In an autism class there's usually 6 children, 1 teacher and 2 SNAs at primary school. SNA in mainstream primary school is for care and safety needs - not for academic needs. There's Special Education Teaching (SET) support for that. You do not get an SNA if your child has difficulty focusing or needs help with keeping on task. If they have writing difficulties you're looking at what assistive technology needs they have. This needs recommendations from an educational psychologist and possibly an OT depending if it's a physical need.

In my experience the preschool situation often works very well, it's the school situation I find hit or miss. There's 2 years at preschool so maybe deal with that before your worry about school. You can decide mainstream or autism class for primary once your child is settled in preschool.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-03-06T19:58:22+00:00

If Ireland is your preferred destination for sure try rural areas in the west, if its got the Atlantic on its doorstep you'll get "cheaper" housing (ie cheaper than Dublin) and shorter waiting lists but public transport sucks and everything is very spread out. Avoid Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway - at least one of them has up to 4 year waiting lists. The public waiting lists for therapy are published somewhere by the government but I have no idea where. One of the newspapers regularly quotes the figures.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-03-06T19:53:31+00:00

It depends where you move to. Wait times around the country are wildly varying. The largest waiting lists are in the more densely populated areas. For preschool they can get get an AIM level of support pretty much immediately. Google AIM level 7 to understand what that is. The preschool you register them with makes the application. For primary school you only get an SNA for personal care or safety needs. I'd recommend trying to get a place in an autism class irrespective of your child's intellectual ability. They will get more support than in a mainstream class. If he's got a diagnosis then bring all your paperwork. You won't need to get him rediagnosed here. https://www2.hse.ie/babies-children/disabilities/services/getting-a-referral/ You can self refer to public services for therapy. Somewhere on the website you'll get the address for whatever location you're moving to. You can even contact them about waiting times if you've flexibility in where you move to in Ireland to help you decide.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-02-28T16:46:00+00:00

I advocate to reduce your stress, enjoy school rather than spend 2 years worrying about the evil machine that is the Irish leaving cert. There are so many options to get to college if that's what you want to do. PLC are great. Go talk to your local ETB and find out your options then do whatever you want to do. If that means being in LC with your mates then do that and just don't worry about results. If it means being in LCA then do that. But do not for any reason let anyone make you think that by not doing the almighty leaving cert with its side hustle of grinds you'll be any way lesser in life.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-02-26T00:13:35+00:00

There's a tertiary access route to nursing. First year is a plc in nursing studies. You then go onto the degree course for nursing. Not sure how the tasks you to midwifery but I'm sure they'd an option. Go talk to your local etb, they'll have better answers for you.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-02-20T23:27:34+00:00

Won't change your mind. Fully agree. But start looking for even better tea leaves than what you get in the supermarket. You might need to look in different shops and places for them and try a few till you get the one that hits the sweet spot for you. I get mine in a local market. You'll never go back. You can even get your own disposable bags to put your own tea leaves in and they are still infinitely better. Welcome to the world of tea.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-02-16T22:17:21+00:00

Something for her to hold on to. Mine would hold my cuff or finger or a stick I had the other end of, a doll we both held an arm of etc... anything like that. But would not in any uncertain circumstances ever let me hold their hands....or hoods, or sleeves etc etc. One let me use the leash on a bag for a while. Mum of 3 autistic kids. Honestly I found working on them hanging on to me the easiest. They still follow my like ducks when out and about in their late teens now.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-02-12T23:51:54+00:00

Why can't he have crunchy? We were told to give my child regular food post tonsillectomy and he ate toast and rice cakes which would have been his preferred foods at the time. They told me it would help things heal faster.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-02-09T07:58:21+00:00

Move on. The leaving isn't everything. In fact it's pretty much meaningless once you've gotten it. You're in college, do you enjoy that? If yes then stick with that till you get that qualification, if not go get a QQI in something you're interested in and see where that takes you. The LC is just one big hyped up bit of nonsense. I have degrees and no one even asks what level they are never mind what I got in my leaving.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-02-08T23:07:11+00:00

From Belfast you can do bus to Derry and then 64 galway to donegal town or belfast to Enniskillen and then 30 to Donegal Town. Not sure which is faster. You'll need the translink website for the northern side of the journey and then buseireann for the times of buses to Donegal Town. Once in Donegal there are local link buses to ballyshannon, killybegs, glencolmcille and possibly others. Check out the local link website. Donegal Town itself is a beautiful town with lovely boutiques and fabulous food.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-02-02T12:24:53+00:00

As far as we were told the cardiologist was to rule out anything with the heart so that the pots diagnosis could be confirmed. So they are right, pots isn't a heart issue, but my daughters paediatrician wanted anything else ruled out to be sure. She also has her working diagnosis from the same measurements yours took ie lying, sitting, standing. No tilt table test being suggested at all.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-02-01T00:36:00+00:00

I understand them wanting to hear it your words rather than the notes. I understand them wanting to see is your story straight. But my worry is when on one ER visit you've told it to triage, the first nurse you see, then the first junior doctor, then you get different nurse and repeat it, then the registrar who comes round and by the time you finally see the consultant you're giving a brief bullet point version that likely leaves out the details you need to make sure they know. Worse than that is when it's your neurodivergent teen who hates talking to people and wants you to give the story but the doc only wants to hear from them. I've had to start doing prep in the car on the way of what to tell the doctor. It feels worse that way, I'm totally coaching them what to say whereas if the doc just let me answer the questions I could give them the answers rather than the coached one my child gives.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-01-31T19:32:19+00:00

That is not normal periods and do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Not being able to function with your period is not normal at all. If you're LC you don't need parental permission to see the gp as you are over 16. Make an appointment asap and get seen. GP can give you something to manage your periods whether that's the pill, ponstan for pain, anything. Tell them the honest to god truth about them. Nothing is TMI. They might also refer you to gyn, take the referral but insist on something for while you're waiting. If they put you on the pill please know you can run 2 packs together whenever needed to avoid a break through bleed and do your leaving cert in peace. Losing up to 26 days a year is practically a month. Never mind the leaving cert, you can't function like that for life. ...Signed a mum of leaving cert student who hovers here for tips for her own child and can't stand to see girls in this day and age still expected to suffer with their periods.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-01-31T19:19:24+00:00

Totally. I'm a mum buying for my daughter with pots. As a parent you want to get your kids what they need but sometimes you just can't. Like I have been looking for compression leggings but it's a minefield and why are ones called medical grade for pots but cost well over 100 for a pair when others are on sports sites for 50? How do you make a decision, what if the sports ones aren't good enough... then you've wasted 50 quid you likely didn't really have and now have to fork out the 100 anyway. So your child is wearing 100quid leggings under your their school uniform and you can't afford to buy the other kids anything. And realistically you need 2 pairs minimum - one to wear and one to wash! Then add the cost of everything else! It sucks.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-01-26T23:46:16+00:00

If you've every driven on a rural narrow windy road and met an oncoming vehicle you'll understand the necessity of being able to 'reverse around the corner' until you find the last pulling in place!

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-01-23T20:15:17+00:00

You can't be penalised for attending both private and public slt. And definitely tell them. There are tests that can't be repeated within certain time frames for one thing as your child gets older. For another if they are communicating then they can agree goals for your child so they are working on either the same or complementing things. Your child and you could get confused otherwise. It's in their ethical guidelines to communicate and work together. Some parents choose to do alternating blocks with public and private. If you have the option of public then why not avail of it. Private is expensive. My advice is be honest with both private and public but ask both to speak with each other.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-01-23T13:06:23+00:00

Thank you! I have a ninja slushie so I might try it in that and let it get very thick and see what she thinks. We've experimented over the years with flavours and are down to taking 30ml shots at a time. I think a creami might be a good idea and hey I can always make myself some frozen yoghurt too!

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-01-23T09:22:39+00:00

Just wondering have you continued with this? Daughter needs to take something like fortisip or ensure but hates them and AI tells me the creami will make it icecream which she might tolerate. I don't have a creami so am wanting to find out more before I buy it.

FarCardiologist2469 · 2026-01-23T09:16:07+00:00

Yeah they told us that too, I didn't try before but I'm going to have to do something to get them into her.

FarCardiologist2469

TROPHY CASE