The First Week of Summer Holidays Was Harder Than We Expected

Sometimes the biggest parenting victories aren't the perfect days—they're the moments your child finally feels safe enough to thrive. Some days you're running on empty... then your child does something that reminds you why you never give up.Summer holidays have arrived, routines have disappeared, sleep has become even more unpredictable, and like many SEND families, we're trying to find our feet all over again. This week Dan is joined by Amy while Ben records from holiday, as we share the honest reality of the first week of the summer break.We talk about Frankie's ongoing sleep struggles, sensory overload, and why evenings can become the hardest part of the day for autistic children with ADHD. We also celebrate some huge family wins, from private swimming lessons finally clicking, to growing independence at home, and the little moments that remind us progress isn't always loud. Meanwhile, Ben shares the challenges and victories of taking his family abroad, navigating anxiety, new experiences and proving just how far they've all come over the last few years. If you're raising an autistic child, parenting a child with ADHD, or navigating life as a SEND family, we hope this episode reminds you that progress often looks different—and that's okay. You're not failing.You're adapting.And you're definitely not alone. If this episode feels familiar, we'd love to hear about your own wins and challenges from the summer holidays. Join the conversation in the comments or over on our social channels. 🎙️ NeuroDADverse PodcastReal conversations about raising neurodivergent children in a neurotypical world. Hosted by two UK dads, NeuroDADverse explores autism, ADHD, SEND parenting, mental load, masking, school systems, identity, and the everyday wins and struggles of neurodivergent family life. If you’re a parent of an autistic child, an ADHD dad, part of a SEND family, or simply looking for honest, relatable parenting conversations — you’re not alone here. 🔔 New episodes weekly📢 Share, rate, or comment to help more families discover the show📧 neurodadverse@gmail.com 🌐 All links & platforms:👉 linktr.ee/NeuroDADverse 🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • Amazon Music • Audible📺 Watch full episodes & short clips on YouTube📲 Follow on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn #NeurodivergentParenting #SENDLife #AutismParenting#ADHDDads #ParentingPodcast #NeuroDadverse#DifferentNotLess #NeurodiversityUK Chapters:00:00 Welcome to The NeuroDADverse01:28 Summer holidays begin02:08 When sleep becomes the biggest challenge08:48 Heat, sensory overload & bedtime struggles14:32 Ben joins from Turkey18:18 Frankie's biggest win: swimming lessons25:15 Small steps towards independence28:08 Holiday wins & family breakthroughs32:09 Looking ahead to Week Two36:53 Your summer wins & challenges38:03 Final thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.