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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To quit holidays with a socially anxious child

78 replies

Peachsunrise · 29/05/2025 21:43

My dd (11) has extreme social anxiety (diagnosed autism). She has always struggled with busy or loud places and people she doesn't know. But this last year it has got so extreme that she constantly thinks people are staring at her, giving her dirty looks or whispering about her.
We are on the last day of a 2 week holiday and it has been mostly depressing because she rarely wants to leave our room and on the few occasions we convinced her to she made the outing so miserable by moaning the whole time.
We are thinking now that there was no point going on holiday as she can play roblox all day in her room at home and we aren't forced to sit in a hotel room/ cabin only getting to go out seperately while the other stays with her.
We are doing all we can think of to help her with her social anxiety Inc counselling but aibu to accept holidays abroad are a waste of money for the foreseeable future?
Anyone had a similar issue and found something that works?

OP posts:
Arran2024 · 30/05/2025 21:16

Needlenardlenoo · 30/05/2025 20:26

We have done the extended family thing a few times with mixed success. Maybe if GPs get ASC and are easy going, with similar holiday tastes and budget. It can simply introduce even more issues...

We used to take my sister in law and her son to a self catering cottage. She's a single parent and it suited all of us - until she and our daughter had the most awful falling out one day. Things have never been the same since.

stargirl1701 · 30/05/2025 21:43

My DD1 (age 12) is autistic.

We go to the same place every year. Same house. Same journey. Same activities. Not a hotel so we can cook. We stay in the UK and bring DDog.

The first year my Dad went and took photos so we could make a book. That is available all year round to look at. We have added photos over the years of her in all the various places. She needs her own room. We eat the same food as at home. The first ‘activity’ is to visit the local sweetie shop.

We don’t do phones or tablets so that’s not an issue that crops up. Both DDs have ‘going out’ bags which contain books, games, fidgets, Yoto, etc. We choose new items a month before going and use them at so they are familiar but new, iyswim.

Our holiday now runs smoothly. It is rather repetitive. DD2 goes away on a separate holiday that is more spontaneous!

NoMumLeftBehindLiz · 31/05/2025 23:29

I’m in a similar situation. DC awaiting assessment but likely on ASD spectrum, a fair bit of anxiety that has developed in the last two years. Used to love holidays but now they are a nightmare. Had to cancel my last two holidays and have no plans to take DC12 anywhere for the foreseeable future which they are very happy about!
I’ve booked holidays for myself with friends instead whilst DC stays with their dad so I can still get away.
It feels very worrying, will they ever be able to travel or enjoy holidays again? Maybe not. And maybe that’s okay. They find happiness in other things. So it will be a different life perhaps. It took me a fair bit of time to come to terms with that.
I tell myself “comparison is the thief of joy” when everyone else is enjoying a family holiday!

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