🏕️ School Holidays with Neurodivergent Kiddos: How I’m Making It Work (Without Losing My Mind)

When you’ve got two children just 13 months apart — one with ASD and the other with very suspiciously undiagnosed ADHD — the phrase “school holidays” doesn’t bring to mind beachy serenity or Pinterest-worthy craft tables.

It brings flashbacks. Noise. Chaos. Strategy meetings. And occasionally... bourbon and Coke.

But this time around, I said nope to the pressure.
Nope to crowded play center's.
Nope to “just take them to the library” advice.
Nope to high expectations and higher sugar intake.

Instead, we’re doing school holidays our way.
And surprisingly? It’s working.

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🌿 The Nature Trick – And Why It’s Gold

We went hiking.
Yep. I took my ASD child, my ADHD tornado, and our puppy Ruby into the wild. Far from main roads, loud people, and overstimulating surroundings.

And something magical happened...

🌼 They set the pace.
🌳 They explored without constant correction.
🧘 I wasn’t yelling, “Don’t touch that!” or “Keep up!” every 30 seconds.
🐾 Ruby sniffed every blade of grass and proudly led the way.

Out there, away from the noise, we just… existed.
And in that existence, they thrived.

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🍪 Chaos Baking: The Delicious Kind

Another win?
Mini cooking day.
(Or as I like to call it: Hurricane Bake-and-Shake.)

We made healthy snacks together — ones they actually wanted to eat because they made them.
The kitchen looked like a scene from MasterChef: Mayhem Edition, but the pride on their faces while they ate their creations in the calm afternoon glow?
Totally worth the mess.

Pro tip: Let go of the perfect recipe, focus on connection. It’s about the process, not the Pinterest pic.

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🎉 Logan City Council’s Hidden Gem: KRANK

If you’re local to Logan, this one’s a massive win.
KRANK is a Logan City Council program that runs during school holidays. It offers low-cost or even free activities across the suburbs — from sports to crafts to adventures that don’t involve chasing your child through a shopping center.

Many sessions are tailored to different ages and abilities, making it way easier to find something that suits your child without the usual overload.

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📚 Libraries? Lovely… But Not for Us

I love books. I love quiet.
But trying to take both of my kids to the library is like asking a blender to read Pride and Prejudice. It’s not going to happen peacefully.

They have plenty of books at home in their quiet corner — and that’s where reading actually works for us. It’s not about forcing a “quiet” activity. It’s about knowing what works for your family.

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💸 It Doesn’t Have to Cost a Thing

Some of the best moments we’ve had this week have been free:

• Hiking

• Backyard bubble play

• Baking at home

• Playing with Ruby in the front yard

It doesn’t have to be expensive.
It doesn’t even have to be structured.
It just has to feel safe and free for them.

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🧺 Meanwhile, Vacation Care Said “Too Hard” 🙃

Here’s the thing — I still have a business to run.
I’ve got orders to pack, marketing to post, and emails to answer while dodging bubble wands and toddler tantrums.

But most vacation care center's took one look at my girls and said no thanks. Too much effort. Too noisy. Too complex.

So it’s on me.
And between running Sensory Planet, keeping the house from falling apart, and making sure my girls have the sensory support they need — I’m doing my absolute best.

Right now, my dining table looks like a laundromat exploded on it.
The dog’s eaten someone’s fidget toy.
And I’m typing this with a teething baby on my hip.

But the girls are happy. And that’s what counts.

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❤️ To the Mums Just Trying to Get Through...

You are not lazy.
You are not failing.
You are just doing your best in a world that wasn’t designed for neurodivergent children (or their supermum's).

So take the hike. Bake the banana muffins.
Let the laundry pile up another day.

Because somehow, some way — you’re making school holidays yours.

We won’t say “your bitch”…
But honestly? Close enough.