Hi, my name is Helen222!

Helen222

Hi everyone 

janer1967

Hi @Helen222 welcome to the community glad you have joined have a look around and feel free to join in 

You might like to check out our virtual coffee lounge or recent discussions sections 

Do you want to tell us a bit about yourself 

I look forward to seeing you around 

Ross_Alumni

Hi @Helen222

Welcome to the community, how are you?

Helen222

I'm good today thank you, just finished my 6th session of Navigate. I'm parent to one child with complex and additional needs, so keeps life entertaining. And we have 2 cats at home. 

Ross_Alumni

That's great to hear @Helen222, are you enjoying Navigate? Is it helping?

I love cats, what are they called?

Tori_Scope

Hello and welcome to the community @Helen222 I'm glad to hear that you've been benefiting from our Navigate service. You might like to check out our parents and carers category to connect with other parents in a similar position.

Please do let us know if there's anything we can do to help. 

chiarieds

Hi @Helen222 - & welcome to the community from me also. I do hope you are finding 'Navigate' helpful, & you will find everyone here very supportive too.

Helen222

Thank you everyone, sorry to take so long to reply. Our first cat was abandoned by a friends neighbour, so she called her puss, now know as puss in boots. Some time ago she had 4 kittens and we kept one and called him Jamie. Strange name for a cat I know but my son James desperately wanted him to be called James and it just didn't work. She is tortoiseshell and he is a sandy ginger colour. Having pets is a pain but we love them like family. 

Tori_Scope

There's no need to apologise @Helen222! Your cats sound lovely. Pets definitely become part of the family  

chiarieds

Hi @Helen222 - it's good to hear from you again. How did you find 'Navigate?' It really helps to know, & will help other parents.

Oh, I do know what you mean about cats.....I took in a 3 month old abandoned kitten over a year ago, but it feels like many, many years! She's absolutely adorable, & loving, when she's not 'mischievous,' & I'd now be lost without her.

How are you, James, Jamie & puss in boots getting on?

Helen222

Yes we're all good thank you. I did 6 navigate sessions (but have the possibility to do another 6, as my son was diagnosed ASD and ADHD this year) 
In my sessions I spoke weekly to a lovely lady called Sara, each week we had a catch up, it was very friendly and it gave me regular head space to reflect on my week, events and work out either what I was struggling with the most and what was working well. My navigate lady toke scores from me at the start and the end so I could see my wellbeing progress. And she was full of tips and useful resources which I would of struggled to remember but helpfully these were also emailed to me. Think one of the main benefits tho is it was parent to parent. 
So glad you found a lovely kitten to love, so sad that anyone could mistreat a cat or animal, and I am hoping that they make breading cats illegal without a licence. Puss in boots was around 6 the vet said when I got her, he couldn't tell if she had an op but she had not had kittens so he thought it was likely because of her age, but a year later she had the most beautiful kittens and now both cats been done. 
I also volunteer at a farm with many animals that offers horse boy therapy to kids on the spectrum. 

Cher_Alumni

@Helen222 Hello, it's lovely to meet you.

it's great to hear about how helpful the Navigate service has been for you.  I get that having some head space just to focus and reflect on the week can help.  Plus, having peer to peer support from a fellow parent who understands and has been there makes all the difference.  

I'm a cat mum too and have 3 little mischievous ones from rescue centres.  Some of our members posted about their pets on this tell me about your pets thread if you want to join in   

Your farm volunteering sounds super interesting and rewarding, what a great idea that is.  We have a volunteering thread that you might like to have a peep at too.

I hope you and your son have a great weekend.  Talk soon!

chiarieds

Thank you for your kind reply @Helen222 - it's great to have your insight as a parent about your 'Navigate' sessions, & I'm so pleased they are proving helpful. I didn't know they emailed advice too, so that's useful to know.

My kitten, Shadow, was abandoned near me with her mum & brother, who are now with another neighbour, & all are doing well.

I'm pleased you are all good; it's so nice to know how everyone is getting on, thank you.

Lisatho11987777

Hi and welcome