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Does anyone have holiday issues?
Last year our 14 yr old asked us not to put his gifts under the tree until Christmas Eve because it is too hard to look at them, know they are for him and not get to open them, the anxiety of Waiting was too overwhelming for him.
We did wrap them but put his under the tree the night before and it helped him. I did tell him, I will feel like you do not know you have gifts if everything is out and yours is not there. He told me, Gran I know you get me stuff but I… read more
Answer Summary
Many community members shared creative strategies for managing the sensory overload, anxiety, and unpredictability that holidays can bring for... Read more
@A MyAutismTeam Member
Sounds like it time for establish a new family holiday tradition. One that doesn't include insensitive relatives.
very good idea :)
I think as paretns, we are always so stuck on we fix everything that we for get to ask them what works.
@ KathyAHull
Way to go----Love it--- your son was advocating for himself---the very goal we all are seeking for----We can only guess....but they are the only ones who truely no what they can and can't handle....
Good job for listening or not missing the opportunity to show there is a way around overload. Thanks for sharing your success!
We have never been able to put anything under the tree until after Alex is asleep on Christmas Eve. This year, we were up until 2am wrapping and placing gifts for him and his little sister and brother. We woke up at 8:30, came downstairs and found that Alex had already come down and unwrapped EVERYTHING. My little ones found their toys tossed around instead of wrapped and under the tree. I just cried.
Our oldest daughter asked in her own way to spend more time alone when we traveled. ---So we didn't force her to be surrounded by people and esp new people 100% of the time. She let her have more space. We encouraged her to come out to do her thing in the group space even if she was not interacting or the interact but never forced her except. So meltdown decress significally.
However hard to know just how much push to give her to keep inproving but not overloading. Think it is a fine line with hard consquences if ever crossed!! Yay for the times we guess right even if it is on accident!!
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