Luv Bug Prepares for Upcoming Holiday Functions with Family and Friends
The holidays can bring so much ranging from unrealistic expectations, $$$, to do lists, loss of routine and – of course – socializing with family.
It’s not that we don’t love our families and friends – but socializing can be hard for families with kids on the spectrum. Take a tip or two from our list of suggestions for survival, and maybe you can avoid that “Bah Humbug” feeling this year.
Talk to the hostess prior to arriving with your cooler of food for the festivities…Just so they know that it’s nothing personal – you would just like your kid to sleep more than three hours during the holiday break. Even if your child isn’t on a restricted diet, familiar food helps ease the pain of an unfamiliar activity or environment. Bring something special and familiar for your spectrum or sensory child to eat at the gathering.- Don’t set yourself up for failure – if loud places, with crying babies set off your sound sensitive child – and your family is chock full of political debaters and three month olds – do not go. Send a handwritten note of apology with the folks from your family that can attend – and let it go! Snuggle on the sofa with your child and Blues Clues for the 1,000th time.
- If you do attend or host a function, try to scout out a quiet space or room for your child to regroup from the noise and chaos.
- Don’t set yourself up for failure (part 2) – if you are expected to host a family gathering, try to gracefully bow out or enlist help. Until you’ve walked a mile in these shoes, folks don’t realize how much work the day-to-day survival is for most families. Sometimes the best gift you can give to yourself, is saying “No, thank you” or “Dammit, NO!” to certain expectations or requirements.
- Have an escape route planned – Literally a “Plan B” if things do not go well. Expect it. Plan for it. Celebrate if you do not need it.
- Communication – communicate the plan for the day to your child on the spectrum. Verbally, or with pictures, whatever works. Be prepared to go over the plan many, many, many times.
- Find a great GFCF (and anything else free) sugar cookie recipe and keep some in the freezer, ready for those last minute invites. You’ll have something to bring – and something your special diets family member can eat while you are visiting.
~ LuvBug
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This is an excellent plan , I come off rude to family and friends because I litterally seem to avoid everyone which causes tension in the family because they believe that I act like I am better or think otherwise, they fail to realize it is difficult for me to participate at birthday parties or other events because my girl gets aggitated very easyily by noise , which in turn causes problems. Yet the fact that they are in denial about her and reson themselves amongst each other doesn’t make me want to participate either… I do bow out of alot but its because SHE needs my presence more so than they do. If they even understood slightly it may be possible but this is something that I can use for peer based events when she wishes to go.