MadeUpMilestones: Bear's secondary school visits via @2ndtimemama

I love sharing the posts from our #madeupmilestones guest post series. It's a real privilege to read about a special moment for someone. And today, it's from Starlight and Stories, our wonderful new co-host on the SEND and Spectrum Sunday linky.  It's all about how well 'Bear' coped with a visits to secondary schools.

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1. Who has achieved their #madeupmilestone? Tell us a bit about them

Bear, aged ten was diagnosed with autism just before her third birthday. She is loving, intelligent and unnervingly honest. When I think back to how much I worried in her younger years, I am often amazed. Each day she surpasses my expectations. This post is just one reason why.

2. When did the #madeupmilestone happen?

Having recently embarked on a trip around our local secondary schools I am stunned by how well the Bear handled it.

Having just come back from a somewhat stressful holiday, where she struggled to step through the door of the kids club - despite desperately wanting to go. I was expecting the worst.

Secondary schools are big, loud and overwhelming.

The thought of her going to one terrifies me. I’m not sure I’m ready for us to be faced with leaving the security blanket of the tiny village primary school which has wrapped our whole family in love since the moment we walked through the door.

3.  What happened?

The Bear however, so far at least, is coping much better than me. She is anxious about the change, but also excited about the challenge.

Of the four schools we have visited she has only struggled to get in the door once. And of the three we got through the door of, she has said she would be happy to go to two of them.

It’s a far cry from the little girl who cowered under the table when she started at her current school. Walking round she was nervous, but mostly polite. She managed to answer every teacher who spoke to her, albeit in her smallest voice.

She even had a go a times table challenge in one of the classrooms, and sampled a bacon butty in the canteen.

I have no idea what the next few months will bring. There will no doubt be Meltdowns from both of us as we embark on this next stage of the Bear’s life. And I’m sure when it comes to the leavers’ assembly I’ll need my pack of tissues.

But what I do know is this. The little girl who once clung to my legs is no more. Her school have given her the greatest gift any parent could ask for. The confidence to move on.

I am so proud of her for embracing this challenge. And whilst I’m not exactly looking forward to it, her willingness to try has encouraged me more than anything else ever could. I am quite simply a very lucky mummy!

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Well done Bear and thank you Starlight and Stories for sharing it with us! 

You can follow more of Bear and her family's stories on Twitter and Facebook.

If you'd like to take part in my #madeupmilestones series, please do not hesitate to contact me, I'm interested in hearing about any special moment or event for anyone you care for.