Dreading the summer holidays with my only child

[Doublecheeseburgerandfries]

I am absolutely dreading it.
DS (6) is an only child and I kick myself everyday that we didn’t try for another. My mental health bottomed out when we had him and I almost ended up in a psych ward. I was really mentally unwell,
I have since been diagnosed with ADHD and Autism.

I feel so bad for him, we have a few neighbourhood kids but not very many round here who play out. He spends so much time playing imaginary stuff on his own, it actually kills me inside. Me and DP try our best to play with him, but we can’t replace or replicate silly kids fun.
His cousins all live in other parts of the country, when we see them (rarely) they play really nicely together, but it’s so few and far between and now the cousins are getting older (he’s the youngest) they are going places with friends over the summer and don’t want to spend time staying away with extended family members.
We try and do as much as we can with him, luckily we are both teachers so get the holidays off.
We are going away twice, but again, he’ll be the only child with us.
All my childhood memories involve my brother - us playing together in the garden or messing around on the beach etc on holiday.

I don’t know how to move past this. I was capable physically of having another child, I wish I’d just bitten the bullet and had one a year or two after DS was born. Instead I kept putting it off and mentally felt unable to do it all again. He was a very poor sleeper and still is.

We have booked him into a club for a couple of days and we are planning to see a couple of friends but most of the parents are working.

I have an only who is now 16. Sometimes the summer holidays felt long when she was little and coming up with ways to keep her entertained was sometimes a challenge. However, time flies by and I now really miss those summers! Maybe just try and focus on the fact you can spend quality time with him which is a gift and as some other posters have suggested plenty of crafts/legos!

You have happy memories of playing with your sibling; well, I'm an only child and have happy memories of all that lovely time alone! My mom worked weekends so she would be there in the week. We'd do one 'big thing' a week, spend time with my nan, I'd see friends a couple of times but really I just enjoyed being at home playing, crafting, watching tv.

If he's happy enough, please don't overdo the clubs and play dates. Being happy in your own company is a very pleasant thing.

I don’t think you should feel bad messaging people and letting them know. One of our neighbours was very open about their concerns about their child’s isolation, particularly around COVID times. This let us know that they needed support and we increased invites and opportunities, when restrictions allowed. Sometimes people just don’t know and they may be grateful for their child to have invites etc: if you’re happy to host and don’t expect it to be reciprocated.

But also agree with neleh87. He may be happy in his own company and don’t push it too much