Before you developed your super parent exterior for parenting kids with special needs, you were you.
What do you miss the most?
I'll go first. Photography. Cats. Travel.
What I miss...Well, once you get a good grasp/understanding of your Child(s)(ren's) situation, you don't have to miss anything, as I've come to learn.
Routine is the saving grace with Autism.
Once everyone's in a Routine, it opens doors where you can do other things.
26 years of 1 on 1 Autism training here. LOL!
It's harder to get on routine at a younger age, but not impossible.
But as for Hobbies; Dioramas (D&D, 1/64th scale), DieCast Conversions and Collecting, and Audio Transfer.
Traveling by myself on an airplane, playing the piano, going to concerts, comedy clubs. I like living room Karaoke now. I still have the same interests, it's just how I do them have changed. My piano is now a Casio keyboard, I watch foreign movies or travel documentaries. I listen to a lot of music, and I watch a lot of funny movies, sitcoms or Netflix stand-up specials. I used to write in a journal. I should start doing that again. 🤔
Being able to travel more easily or do anything like go to grocery store more easily. Having time to relax and read a book magazine by the beach or pool. Times when i didn't have to clean up after everyone. I have 3 kiddos, 6 yo on the spectrum, 4 year old and new baby thats 4 months and an 12 year old step son every other week so lifes a but hectic right now. But still have found sometime to do things like photography travel its just a bit different and stressful but fun memories too
Drawing, I love drawing people and I miss it. However I have discovered wreaths later on in my life. I enjoy making them for holiday occasions.
During the hard early years, you may have to put the things you love doing on the back burner, but don't think of it as giving up. Now that my kids are older. I am back to doing what I love, competing in track and field.