To find half term lonely

[WhateverHappenedToFayWray]

I just want to start off by saying how much I love and adore my DD but I am finding half terms increasingly lonely.

As I've mentioned before DD7 is Autistic and has learning disabilities and I am finding it harder and harder to take her out on my own as she is getting bigger and stronger and likes to run off. I can't carry her like I used too and it doesn't feel safe to take her out on my own anymore.

I have friends but they either don't have children, are busy with work or have just had baby's and want to spend time with their families ( completely understandable).

I just feel alone and know its nobody's fault but I just can't help feeling this way. It's very isolating

Not sure what I wanted to get out of this post just wanted to vent.

Sorry you are feeling lonely.

As your child is going to get older and bigger you really need to address the issue of going out. You can't stay home forever. Are there any services that can help you to manage safely or teach you strategies for dealing with your child when out and about? If she is registered disabled are there any charities that can support? Are there playschemes for children with additional needs you could tap into?

One of our brownies likes to wander off - also has learning difficulties. Her mum has got her used to wearing a wrist strap (using chocolate). So when she come out with us in a hike etc, she’s basically tied to me.
Would that work for you?

@Mumdiva99

Sorry you are feeling lonely.

As your child is going to get older and bigger you really need to address the issue of going out. You can't stay home forever. Are there any services that can help you to manage safely or teach you strategies for dealing with your child when out and about? If she is registered disabled are there any charities that can support? Are there playschemes for children with additional needs you could tap into?

This is the thing, most of the charities that I've seen either take place during term time 🙄 or won't help until your child is at least 8 years old. There doesn't seem to be any kind of support in my area at all.

@underneaththeash

One of our brownies likes to wander off - also has learning difficulties. Her mum has got her used to wearing a wrist strap (using chocolate). So when she come out with us in a hike etc, she’s basically tied to me. Would that work for you?

I'm not sure that would work with my daughter. She's quite stubborn and would end up just sitting on the floor.

Could have wrote this myself only my daughter is 10, she’s exactly the same and like you said getting harder as she gets older as she is now the size of an adult, if she’s not running off (she has no danger awareness and will run into roads) she is lying on the floor refusing to move. I’m a lone parent and have 3 other kids (younger) so taking her out is impossible because I can’t safely watch all of them. I dread the holidays. Have you looked into using a sen buggy? Don’t know if that would work for you, my daughter would be too big for one now and like you said wrist straps won’t work with her and she just lies down on the floor.

Have you contacted the SENDIAS team at the local council?
What about local FB group for children with Autism....they may know of ways of accessing support. Keep trying. You and she deserve it.

Do you have friends with any children with additional needs? Could you try to connect on Facebook or via school? I think making friends with even just one mum who understands would make a huge difference. You could go out together and support eachother.