I don't often post about DS1 ASD but I'm really struggling this holidays.

every December is hard my DH works LOTS more and I go from having two at school and one at home to all three home, bored and looking at me to entertain them.

DS1 is completely non verbal and not toilet trained, every morning I clean up his poo and wee off the floor while he is in the shower possibly, more often then not, destroying the bathroom. He is obsessed with food and texture. He spends most of the day dragging me to the cupboard for food and is always naked. He destroys everything

I'm tired. I have emergency respite day booked for next month but that's all I can get. I need something regular! I have asked but no one seems to be able to offer it to me. This holidays because we can't get help for DS1 we've put DS2 in care for two days a week.

Having DS1 and DS2 all day is killing me. I'm quite sick with a lung infection and my asthma is flaring up because of it. I just want a rest, I want school back.

I hate the Christmas holidays, I spend the whole time cranky and feeling trapped How do you cope with out therapies and school for your SN kids?

Hi BugBiEz, I soooo can relate to your post, this was us last school holidays (October) I really struggled with DD2, she pretty much was doing everything you mentioned, I have two other children at home too. I just wanted and pretty much did cry the whole time.
Things that are working this school holidays.
- Providing a safe spaces for DD2, which help calm her, e.g, I put the 2 lounges togeather and fill with soft blankets and pillows, bring plastic clam shell inside fill with cushions/blankets, bought heaps of cheap lycra from a dance shop and have tied to our outdoor play equipment, she loves to lay in it and swing (can post photos if that will help).
- She is also obsessed with food texture (take your eyes of her for 2 seconds and she is coated in margarine). I try to give her heaps of sensory activities, playdough (which she squishes her feet into), a big container of rice, goop (cornflour and water), shaving cream, tons of bubbles (I love our bubble machine). I find rubbing/masssaging moisteriser on her feet often helps. I have a lock on the pantry we have found pecs has helped us quite a bit.
There are some more ideas/pics I posted in this thread

http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/ind...66&hl=kara3

- For this school holidays I have booked DD2 in for intensive therapy seesions (organised with our usual provider using facsia funding)

In terms of help, which state are you in? I have found the commonwealth carelink centre and my Local area coordinator to be quite helpful when I need some extra support.
If I can help in any way please feel free to pm me

-------

thank you so much to taking the time to reply. Your DD and my DS sound very similar I have a great love for out bubble machine too

I was thinking about making like a sleeping bag out of Lycra for DS, he has one at school and it seems to calm him down. we've got locks on all the cupboards so DS just grabs me and shoves me into them to open it, that or his fishes through the rubbish to find wrappers of the foods he wants... or if he's desperate he'll find a PECS card. We've even had to take the taps off during the day to stop him from turning them on!

you've given me a few more ideas thanks again!

All I can say is DS1 (10 yo) has been very challenging. He has been hitting all of us as well as people in the street/shops. It has become so bad that I have to hold both of his hands together when we are in public to stop him swinging at people. I feel totally house bound.

I have been trying to get someone else to look after the other kids even if it is only for an hour so I can go walking or swimming with him to burn off some energy.

BugbiEz, you are very welcome, completely understand
My DD is also 5 and yes I am very familar with being pulled and shoved into cupboards

Popeye , must be really hard. My DD is only 5, but the only way we can take her out is in her SN's pram. Out of her pram she get's quite distressed, drops to the ground and I can't move or lift her. I still can't take her into supermarket as she will reach, grab and throw things. I tend to shop at night time when Dh is home or use Coles online. I do feel sorry for my other DD's as I am not able to take them out very often (we tend to go out on weekends when Dh is home). Though I do try to do heaps of activities and fun things at home

------

---

Agree Sunny Day, online shopping is a god send!!!

popeye hitting is so hard! I know how it feels having behaviour keep you under house arrest! Online food shopping has saved me more then once, in fact I've done an order ready and waiting for delivery tuesday morning!

My DH brought home a smallish inflatable pool which DS1 is slashing about in right now, it has helped keep him happy for a little longer, though I've had to rescue many things from being throw in! DS2 also went to family day care for the day yesterday and that helped loads!

thanks again, it's good not to feel alone

We did have one incident which although it was terrible behaviour, it did make us giggle. DH had a mate stay over. They had quite a bit to drink and didn't get in until around 2am. His mate was asleep on a fold out bed in the lounge room. DS1 got up at 3am, ripped the Christmas star off the top of the tree and repeatedly hit DHs mate over the head with it. WTF??? I would love to know what was going on inside his head sometimes...

BugBiEz, the inflatable pool sounds great

Popeye, That's funny! DD2 went through a stage that when anyone came over to visit, she would attempt to push them outside and shut the door. Very welcoming I guess change is very hard for our kiddies.

-----

Oh thank you OP for sharing your experiences, and everyone else. I am struggling these holidays with my boy who is desperately missing his routines and acting out.

Plus I have three other young kiddies to keep entertained...it is actually a very stressful time and I feel like I am the mother I didn't want to be....the one who dreads what the long school holidays bring! It makes me very sad. I feel so far from who I wanted to be as a Mum sometimes...but maybe that was a fantasy Mum and I am real and so are my children.

Right now my son is screaming (again) and I am so tired of managing his meltdowns. I have all the sensory opportunities for him to calm but my emotional resources are in the negative.

Anyway- I just wanted to add that you are not alone. I take REAL comfort from hearing that others find the holidays are not always the 'relaxed, lets get together and have some quality down time' event we want for ourselves and our kids.