Ways to cope with a square peg in the school holidays.

Any parents of autism know that the school holidays can be a major challenge, square pegs struggle to cope without the familiar routine of school and this can lead to more meltdowns.

So here’s our story of this February half term with our square peg. Please like and share, particularly if it resonates with you or you know someone in a similar situation.

Day 1 – Travel up to the in-laws.

A long car journey with a square peg is always interesting and this one was no exception…we got most of the way without anything happening…then we stopped at a Drive thru Costa (not for Edward I hasten to add) so I gave the boys some snacks in the back….off we go again….all good….then….Edward coughs at the same time as eating a biscuit and yep you’ve guessed it….he spews 🤮 and of course there’s nowhere to stop on the motorway…then Edward starts flicking his spew and moaning and Matthew’s complaining that a bit of Edward’s spew is now on him 😱🤦🏻‍♀️😂! Wow! You couldn’t make this up! 🤪

Day 2- Round the Lake and Oatcakes.

We attempted a whole day out with Edward and it was pretty successful. Westport Lake in Tunstall, Stoke-onTrent is a wildlife conservation area, a tarmac path runs all around the lake making for easy family walking and buggies.

https://www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk/explore/our-visitor-centres/westport-lake-visitor-centre

There was a remote control boat club meeting on the lake and Edward was most excited to watch them whizzing about on the lake.

Lots of ducks, geese and swans to watch too. Edward spent most of the time trying to find the biggest sticks….

Then the most exciting part for me was a visit to the B’oatcake Company, a canal boat that travels around the Trent and Mersey canal selling North Staffordshire Oatcakes. Today it was moored on the canal next to Westport Lake. Absolutely delicious Staffordshire oatcakes for only £2. I had to restrict myself to just one….I could actually have eaten six!🐷

But that was just the morning, we then decided to visit Biddulph Grange National Trust Gardens. Edward had a great time just running around the gardens. We visited the tea rooms for tea and cake, we even bought a whole slice of Victoria sponge for Edward, would he even try it??…..no….he just ate his plain Rich Tea biscuits…🙄

Day 3 – Mummy Square Peg tries Tai Chi Then we all eat pizza.

So Mummy Square Peg tried Tai Chi today for the very first time. Being a RE teacher I am naturally interested in anything like this, anything to do with the eastern religions, meditation and mindfulness I’m there.

Tai Chi originated in China around 700 years ago by a Taoist monk. It is said to have plenty of health benefits. For example it can reduce stress and anxiety, can improve or prevent osteoporosis and improve balance. The slow and graceful movements make it easily accessible to all age groups and abilities.

As a Mummy self care advocate I would recommend this activity for any stressed Mummy to do as it’s calming, and living in a world with autism calm moments don’t come very often.

For lunch we decided to go to Pizza Express. Edward ate some dough balls with a cocktail stick, then repeatedly dropped a 2 pence piece onto the table.

Day 4 – Travel home.

An uneventful car journey home but boy when we stopped at Ikea that all changed….Edward decided that he was absolutely not going to queue up in the cafe and then he was absolutely NOT going to walk round and look at bedroom storage…..if we’d let him run around Ikea then he would have been loving it!

Day 5 – Edward chills out

Nothing exciting to report today. Edward spent the day playing on his tablet, watching films (ish) and throwing marbles and R2-D2 down the stairs.

Day 6 – Edward gets a haircut.

With his brother out with his buddies, we took Edward to a cafe and then to get his haircut. This was not a complete disaster, he was able to sit in the chair in the barbers, put the gown on and he didn’t scream the place down….until they’d finished….then he cried all the way home 🤦🏻‍♀️🏠. I didn’t manage to get any pictures as I had to use my phone as a distraction.

Day 7 – Boredom strikes the round peg.

Matthew has had such a busy half term that he was shattered, as he’s 8 he was unable to see that himself so when I told him perhaps he should have a chill out day or he’ll still be tired when he goes back to school he whinged and moaned….constantly…

After my ears had been bashed all day with whinging, they couldn’t take it any more so we went out to the park with a football.

Edward, of course, wasn’t interested in the slightest in playing football, but more interested in finding the biggest stick and running around with that.

So as half term draws to a close and we’re all back to school on Monday, I can confidently say ‘WE SURVIVED!’ It wasn’t all plain sailing but we did have a lot of fun and made some good memories.

My final words of wisdom are only to be prepared that the school holidays with a square peg will be challenging but just roll with it, the top priority is to have fun.

Please share any half term stories with your square pegs.

Twins, Tantrums and Cold Coffee