Thanksgiving & Special Needs - How to make it enjoyable

Holidays. It’s often a recipe for disaster: no routine, lots of family, constant new impressions…

I learned - way too late - how to make it enjoyable. No more meltdowns, no more tears of frustration by my kid or me. To do so you need to let go of outer expectations and set clear rules.

What might help:

1. Quiet room - Wherever you go ask for a room where your kid can retreat to when he or she needs to recharge. No - that doesn’t mean the basement watching cartoons with all the other little cousins who want to chill as well.
2. Have a sign or signal toy. And teach your family that sign as well. Your kid holding its stuffed elephant means: I need help.
3. It’s not about the outfit. Have a kid who is really fussy about clothing material? Can only handle stressful days like this wearing his superman cape? Let him. Thanksgiving and Christmas are NOT about color coordinated clothes.
4. Hugging is not mandatory - if your kid normally hates hugging, holidays are not going to change that. Again: already stressful enough. People need to respect his boundaries!
5. Don’t need to play along - Kid is normally not a group person? Why should that be any different with cousins? 
6. Make dinner fun - Have a kid that has a hard time sitting down for even 15 minutes? Then it’s not going to quietly sit down at a boring dinner table for 2 hours… set a table for their stuffed animal, use color-in placemats, let them play. 
7. Explain - All of the above - Tell your family what your kid needs. How he or she ticks. Don’t do it by phone, and no it is not open to discussion. Email them or send them a letter (maybe together with a book like ’10 things my kid with autism wish you knew’) explaining them what your kid need. Your family wants what’s best for your kid as well. They want your kid to enjoy the holiday as much as they do. Just remind them that you are the expert on your kid.And remember: it is easier for 10 adults to adjust to 1 kid, than 1 special need kid accommodating to all those people…

Your kid happy. You happy. And that’s all that matters.

Stay sane 🧘 Stay happy 💃

Nadine

More holiday tips

Need more tips to keep sane during the holidays? Listen to episode 19. How to take the stress out of the festive season - with tips for travel - dealing with family - stay overs and more: https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/special-needs-supermom-podcast/id1509076339?i=1000493914822

Need help to immediately get out of overwhelm? Listen to one of the mini bonus episodes:

• Breathing technique: https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/special-needs-supermom-podcast/id1509076339?i=1000537104400
• Grounding technique: https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/special-needs-supermom-podcast/id1509076339?i=1000537104399

Your planner

📔Wanna find and recharge your superpowers? Conquer time, stay on top of it all and find time for yourself? Check out the Special Needs Supermom planners: https://www.etsy.com/nl/shop/Specialsupermom

Group

Looking for a tribe with fellow special needs moms that get you? Join the PRIVATE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/specialneedssupermoms