Madeupmilestones: Talking to the teacher with @BrisonSharon

I'm proud of so many of my kids achievements.  My boys often don't hit the same milestones as listed in the 'little red book' milestone chart and I've learned that creating our own milestone charts celebrating their own achievements is more valuable to me.  This series celebrates the #madeupmilestones of those we care about. This month it's from Everyones Buck Stops Here who shares a milestone about her daughter and her selective mutism.

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Hi, I can't wait to hear about your #madeupmilestone.  Here we go...

1. Who has achieved their #madeupmilestone, tell us a bit about them 

My daughter Evelena is 10 and has Selective Mutism. A severe anxiety disorder where a person is unable to speak in certain social situations, such as with classmates at school or to relatives they don’t see very often.

2. When and where did the #madeupmilestone happen?

Since starting my blog back in November 2016, Evelena has flourished at school. She has made improvements over the years she has been at Primary, but late last year saw her working really hard and pushing herself to finally be able to talk to her teacher. After some failed attempts, she battled on and finally succeeded in achieving her goal, she spoke to her teacher.

3. The fab part... what happened?

She had spent nights worrying she would never be able to do it, often saying the words just wouldn’t come out. But she pushed on and is now full of excitement that she is and continues to be able to talk to her teacher. They are not lengthy conversations but like I say to her, from small acorns grow mighty oaks.

The realisation that she is starting Secondary in September has given her the want and drive as she wants to start Secondary school as Evelena, and not Evelena the girl who doesn’t talk.

Her achievement is enormous, the anxiety surrounding speaking was huge for her along with the added fear of the reaction when she did, she was worried that there would be a big fuss and she did not want this, she wanted it to as normal as possible. Her teacher later had a few tears as it proved emotional for her too.

Her next step is to talk to her teacher in front of her classmates, this concerns her as she worries about them all reacting, loudly, to her talking in the classroom to the teacher, but like we say to her it will soon become old news. She is currently working on this. One thing Evelena doesn’t lack is self-motivation, she has an abundance of this.

These steps she has made has in turn had he saying to me “Mum you won’t have anything to write about on your blog soon, as I’m talking! I honestly believe my blog has helped her in pushing on, she would ask to read what I had written and would comment “not for much longer, Mum”. I have my fingers and toes crossed she will reach her goal and with her self drive I am hopeful.

You can read more about Evelena and about Everyones Buck Stops Here via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.   Thank you so much for taking part! Speaking out can be difficult for many kids but this really is something else - brilliant and I'm pleased for you. 

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If you'd like to take part in my #madeupmilestone series, please do not hesitate to email me, I'm interested in hearing about any special event for anyone you care for.  Contact me, Ann on rainbowsaretoobeautiful@outlook.com