Meet Ricky the newest member of the gang. He’s made an appearance before when he started burying his nuts in the lawn over winter. But now he has started coming for his lunch. Happily feasting next to the birds. He (or she) will be a welcome friendly face going forward.
We are just over a week from the start of the summer holidays. Six weeks of immersing myself in our son’s world. It truly is a privilege. A wonderful mind trip. Happy parent.
I bumped into a parent from his current school. They have the holiday mapped out. Immediately they break up they are going to a music festival for the first weekend. Then the kid is going on a football course for the first week. Then they fly out for a two week beach holiday in a popular Spanish resort. They come back and then the kid is off camping with the scouts. A couple of trips to fun parks and family barbecues are then followed by a family week in Paris Disney.
Asperger/Autism summer holidays can be very different to this. Ours is. For a start we are limited by finances. Our summer holidays are long periods of house lockdowns briefly punctuated with carefully selected trips to places without crowds. This means early day trips to places like Zoos – trying to cram as much in as soon the venue opens and leaving as soon as the crowds start to build. For his favourite zoo that means arriving at 9am and probably leaving around 10.30am. Trips to the cinema will be to the 8.30am screenings. Locations will be carefully planned so that he feels comfortable there. Walks will be in very remote and largely unvisited areas.
A trip to Switzerland would have been an option (he is comfortable there and the journey is familiar having done it a few times) but we just can’t afford it. Plus he is more comfortable going during quieter periods – April/October. And we haven’t tried it since his mum left us – will it ever feel the same.
So our summer holidays will be quiet and largely cut off from the outside world. That would worry me in the past. The real danger of becoming increasingly introverted over those weeks and losing any social confidence which I had struggled to build up. This year it doesn’t really bother me. Yes I might become more introverted but its not as if I have a full social diary. Introversion and isolation is the new me. I can focus on our son and see what adventures we can weave – I’m sure Ricky will play some part as well.
I much prefer your summer holiday plans to the parent who has everything mapped out – poor kid!
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Kid doesn’t get much free time does he.
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I agree with Bruce, I’ve never needed to have every minute planned with activity.
A couple of fun things I like to do with Ben that cost nothing are a blanket fort in the living room and a camp out in the back yard. Maybe invite Ricky to join the camp out?😉
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Certainly having a go at the camp out. But we said that last summer and never got one night good enough. Fingers crossed.
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This and the last several posts have left me very impressed with the way you consistently a) advocate for your son, and b) raise awareness about children and adults on the spectrum and their unique needs. You’re doing a good job. Keep it up!
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That is so kind of you. xx
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You are such an amazing father. Also, you are on a healing journey so it’s natural to be introverted and needing to have time alone with your son to recoup and rebuild from a very big event. I think you are doing an awesome job.
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Thank you. Son gives me purpose.
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Yes, our offspring do that.
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That’s kinda reassuring
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I believe it’s true, at least it is for me (and for you too).
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I do
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Awwww … Ricky is adorable!!! And frankly, your summer holiday sounds much more relaxing and fun to me than that of the wealthy jet-setters! I do not envy them one bit! Enjoy! Make memories in your own world with your son. They will be just as meaningful as memories at Paris Disney would be!
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They will be. Must say one day in Disney would be good though.
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Too many people, crowds, the stench of humans, long lines, unhealthy foods … 😉
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Is that England…..
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Actually, I meant any of the Disney parks, or any amusement park for that matter, but I’m sure it could apply to parts of both our countries. Especially any big city. Where you live, I doubt it applies, for I see in your pictures open, peaceful space.
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The local village store can get mental. Sometimes up to 4 customers at a time…
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Whoa … that’s a crowd!!! Is this the same store where the lady said she had voted for Brexit because she didn’t think it would pass anyway?
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Basically
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I think you will have a fun time even when you are at home! You know your son and what works for him, that is the main thing! Go Dad Go!
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That really is all that matters
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Sounds like you and your son will be enjoying a fantastic summer holiday, spending quality time together.
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Really hope so
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I’m with you all. Sounds nice and laid back and spontaneous..Have fun.
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We will try.
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Irish schools finish a whole month before yours. And the kids get booked into camp after camp. I guess the parents need someone to mind them while they work.
Not ours though. Our summer will be like yours. Minus the getting up early.
Thank God for social interaction via internet, right? You can have friends without leaving the house.
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Ricky’s adorable.. and he looks pretty fit too. You should ask him his fitness tips? 😉
Your holiday plans sound very advisable. I can foresee the two of you having a great time together without the need to stress out over too much ‘stuff’ or getting stuck in holiday traffic or crowds. it’s a great feeling travelling in the opposite direction to where masses of holiday-makers are trying slowly to get to! 😉 Get creative! 🙂
I suspect a Swiss trip might best be left a little while longer, so as to avoid too many grief traps. Emotions, like the mountains, run very high there!
And i suppose i have to congratulate you and the English Cricket team for playing so well in the ICC World Cup Semi-final, the less said about which, the better! 😢
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I agree re/ Ricky. He looks pretty chubby compared to any gray squirrels I have observed in my life. Nice healthy tummy. You are feeding him right.
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He’s not picky…
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New Zealand we turn into one day gods for the final
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May the best team win!
( I suppose, being born in Staffs i should be barracking for England, but the truth is my heart just won’t be in it!) 😉
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No not really that fussed about national teams at present.
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Man United are touring here for 10 days currently – they play Leeds U on Wednesday at our new 60,000 seat stadium!!
Can’t afford the tickets! 😦
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Isn’t that bizarre
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Its a mad wolrd we live in! 😉
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Getting madder
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🙏
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If your going to do this weeks Terrible Poetry Contest your word is bedpost……
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I thought i had more time than i had for last week’s poem!
I will take ‘bedpost’ on board for this week. 😉
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is: Antediluvian !
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Ok…. might be a one word poem. But challenge accepted
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One word? That’s cheating!!
( I wish i’d thought of that!) 🙂
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That’s two words….
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That wasn’t my poem!
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🙏
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Holidays with a child with extra needs are always tough. There were so many things that we couldn’t do with Simon. Roller skating was a no-no, camping was a no-no. It made life difficult when there were 3 other children to consider too. Enjoy the outside and make the most of any sunshine that we may get. Totally understand how tough it is though on your own.
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4 kids would be a real tough balancing act.
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It certainly was especially when I was on my own with them. They sre all grown up now but Simon still needs a lot of extra attention.
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🙏
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I think your holiday plans are far preferable than those of your rich neighbours, although I do wish you could afford Switzerland
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One day…
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Love the name of your new friend 🙂 I hope you make some wonderful memories this coming summer break – thinking of you guys!
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Thank you. Hope your summer is going well. Are you off to the Presidents museum this break.
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I’m not sure. We live near Philadelphia and I think for Declan’s birthday he wants to see the Liberty Bell and all the history around it. May do that instead.
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That’s in Philadelphia isn’t it. Certainly has a lot of history even I have heard of it.
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Yeah, there is a lot of history right near us we have never taken him to that he would like. Probably will take him there soon!
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In the UK most of the museums are free. I’m pretty sure many of the big ones in the states are free. That really does help. It doesn’t feel so bad when you leave prematurely.
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Such a nice and useful plan. I dislike crowds, they make me weary. I understand.
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I think many do
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Whatever you end up doing, I really hope you both have a winderfuk hokuday time together Gary. It sounds good to me, with no pressure antwhere. You are a fantastic parent Gary. I admire yiu. Xx
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You are so kind Lorraine xx
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You are exceptionally welcome Gary. Have a wonderful time over the summer. Xx
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Let’s hope for decent weather as a start. x
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Enjoy your time together and have a blast. 🙂
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We shall try
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Here We call it a staycation.
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We do. Can be so much fun.
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I keep hearing “Ricky” in my head the way Bianca from EastEnders would scream it.
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Never thought about that
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If I had to choose between either of those holidays,, I would choose yours. Well maybe not the early mornings, but if that means avoiding the crowds, I can see why you do it. The other one sounds really stressful. I’m not talking about the money or cost of things, but the type of school holiday. I hope you have a wonderful time 🙂 These are things that your son enjoys with the least stress possible and you never know, you might meet one or two friendly faces on your days out.
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Sounds like many are the same.
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There is NOTHING wrong with quiet holidays. We would have loved some time in the North Woods with the kids, yeah, but like you said, money’s going to talk, and Bo’s job means he’s on call every weekend this summer. It’s such a bummer your public school system has no sort of summer class system; granted, I don’t know if every American state has free summer school, but I’m thankful our town does, because those few morning hours at school really got the kids’ creative juices flowing. Now with them home all day this month it’s a matter of encouraging them to get back to their pencils and paper–so far, I’ve been pretty successful, knock on wood. Maybe your son can start drawing his own comic! 😉
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He would love to. His fine motor problems means that he grips the pencil too hard – makes it difficult for him. Being on call must make your weekends so unpredictable and restrictive. One day let’s hope for weekend freedom.
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What about pencil holder thingeys? Or perhaps big thick markers–just go in with color right away.
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We will try again. It would make him feel so good if he could.
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