Holidays and autism
Holidays are difficult. High stress, chaotic busy times.
They can trigger a lot emotions
Then Throw in autism and it adds to the fun.
Our kids tend to go against the grain, the expected
They are sensitive to mood, sounds, smells ans get overwhelmed so easily
The Holidays don’t always make sense to them because the ideas are so abstract
We as parents have so many pressures with expectations.
We are expected to post the perfect picture
Create magical lasting memories
Bake and decorate
Make everything effortless
( nothing is effortless over here in this griswald house)
Matching pajamas
Pictures with Santa
The more things don’t go as planned the more we try to force it
Why?
It’s how it’s supposed to be
It’s for your other children and your family
For me I want her to have the experiences that all kids get to have. She deserves that.
It didn’t make sense if she is not enjoying it.
We love our kids and want to make them happy. That’s is perfectly natural, it’s a good thing
Sometimes we have to make adjustments and do things a little differently
That’s ok
It’s also okay to be sad about it, it’s okay to feel frustrated and angry at the unfairness of it
Own your feelings, it’s the only way to process them and move on. It’s hard sometimes. It’s okay to say that and to feel it.
It does get easier as time goes, you will still have your moments and that Okay too.
My daughter didn’t full participate in Christmas.
Yes she opened gifts and liked that but couldn’t pick gifts or get excited before hand. She didn’t know who Santa was.
As the years went by she participated more.
Now the understanding is there.
Now she loves Christmas!
Don’t give up when it’s hard, they will
Come around when they are ready. It might look a little different in our houses but then again most things do.
Autism adventures with Alyssa 