Autism Family Life in Summer Holidays: Every Day Was a Win... and a Challenge |NeuroDADverse Ep.60

When you're raising a neurodivergent child, even the happiest family days are built on countless unseen adaptations and every little win feels enormous. Some families come home from holiday feeling rested.Others come home proud they made it through.This week, Dan is joined by Amy while Ben is still away, and together they reflect on an entire week of summer holiday adventures with Frankie. Instead of focusing on one big win or challenge, they take you through each day, sharing the highs, the setbacks, the unexpected moments and the tiny victories that made the week so memorable.From holiday club successes and SEND playdates to a beach trip, swimming lessons, Godstone Farm and preparing Frankie for his first independent outing without Mum or Dad, it's an honest look at what family holidays really look like when autism, ADHD and sensory needs are part of everyday life. Along the way they discuss:Why small wins deserve celebratingSensory overload in busy environmentsSleep challenges during the summer holidaysSupporting regulation through unfamiliar situationsSwimming breakthroughs and growing confidenceThe emotional planning that happens behind every family day out If you're raising an autistic child, navigating ADHD, or parenting within the SEND community, we hope this episode reminds you that progress isn't measured by perfect days; it's measured by the courage to keep showing up.💛 We'd love to hear about your own summer holiday wins and challenges. Come and 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 Timestamps:00:00 Welcome to The NeuroDADverse00:43 Amy joins the podcast again02:05 Holiday Club: A huge drop-off win04:28 When another child bites Frankie08:02 SEND playdate successes09:13 Family visit & learning to regulate12:10 Beach day: A huge family win15:11 When plans don't go as expected19:50 Holiday Club & summer sleep struggles20:42 Swimming lesson breakthrough25:35 Dad gets a day off!29:35 Godstone Farm adventure33:13 The great ice cream negotiation!36:00 Horses, animals & sensory wins39:34 Looking ahead: Frankie's first solo outing41:04 Final reflections on the holiday week41:27 You're definitely not alone Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.