Davethenat,
Thank you for your time in sending me your post, it is very much appreciated.
So far all those who have posted a reply have been very helpful indeed. They have really put me in a good place, a comfortable place with myself and what I am trying to do. Family are ok, but some I have told are afraid of the stigma, and would rather I do nothing, and just "leave him to be a child", which makes me question myself.
On a more directional note, I contacted the health visitor today. My heart was in my mouth while I was making the phone call, but I know I was doing the right thing, because today when we went to buy a pair of trainers, we both struggled.
After getting his feet measured the assistant went to get him the style of trainer he picked. After I paid and we were leaving the shop he started to cry, and said that the trainers hurt. I asked him why he did not tell me before, he said because they might not have my size. So we had to go back to the same assistant and ask to see more shoes and to change the ones he had on and get a refund.
She came back with another MORE expensive pair and he tried it on and after walking around for approximately 1 minute he just burst into tears. I told him to calm down it will be ok and to tell me why he is crying. He said, "these are not nice, and they are hurting at the toes", I said it was ok, there was no need to cry, we can always change them. Which she did, and the assistant produced another pair. He tried them on and liked them, and was smiling again.
I was at the till ready to pay again, when he said that they hurt and started to cry again. So I literally held on to the money grabbed the assistant again and apologised and asked if we can see more trainers. In between the sobs he said "These don't fit and there are no more trainers to try, and I have to wear shoes all the time and shoes don't have lots of friction, so I will keep falling over and hurting myself, so I have to keep these and I don't want to". I told him it was ok, and to take them off. After a full refund we left. However, he was literally flying as high as a kite when we left the shop, dancing and singing , as if nothing was out of the ordinary had happened.
But we will get there...! !
Best regards,
