Monday 31 August 2015

Back to School....

With it being 'Back to School' next week for most of our kids, I literally cannot believe at how fast the holidays I have gone! It's just as scary that we go into September tomorrow too!


I am no way ready to send DS back to school yet, I want to plead to the education authority that we haven't had enough time with him and that we need more (time) to do more lovely things *wails into my cup of tea*


The holidays have been lovely and I have absolutely LOVED having him all to myself for the 6 weeks!


We went on holiday just a week or so ago and although that was hard work at times, it was very rewarding hard work as he just loved being there! He swam everyday and just loved the pretty little village cottage we were staying in - it made our holiday seeing him so happy :)


Remember my Summer bucket list that I wrote? Well I thought I would revisit it to see what we did and what we didn't manage to do.....


1) Head to the beach whenever Mr. Sun comes out to play! :) Take our fishing nets, bucket and spades and packed lunch.


Big tick for this one as especially on holiday, we were always going to the beach and with one of them times DS finding some muddy sand and decided to lie in it :) It was so funny - that kid is attracted to mud I swear he is! ;) ;)



2) Find a pretty and safe wild swimming spot and go for a dip!


We didn't manage to do this as there just wasn't a day that was warm enough to heat up a lake :(


3) Eat chips on the seafront with a bottle of retro style Coca-Cola


Does it count that we bought fish and chips and then took them back to the cottage to eat? *asks hopeful* No I didn't think so.....


4) Camp in the garden. We do this a lot in Summer. Pitch the tent in the garden and even cook our tea on the camping stove. The rules are to only enter the house to use the loo!


This is one that we smash every Summer! But when I went into the shed to dig out the tent, it was gone! Then I remembered, it had a rip so I had to bin it :(
But not to worry as I have secured funding just this week as it happens for a spanking brand new tent and equipment of my  choosing! Yaaay! The nice lady I spoke to said "that's so lovely dear that DS loves camping, not a problem, I will pop you a cheque in the post dear. Thank you dear, take care now dear"
I literally cannot wait to go camping shopping now! :) :)


6) Practise our bike riding skills as much as we fancy on the front of our house :)


Big tick for this one as we do this at every opportunity :) though not today as its raining heavily here in Cheshire :(


8) Explore rock pools for sealife and cool treasures


This is something we do automatically when we got the beach, its as natural as falling asleep when your tired! :)


10) Play chase and tick


DS 's fave game! Last week I had to go to a hospital to have a general anaethestic, I came home groggy that afternoon but DS still had me running around the house chasing him! :/



11)Make biscuits and decorate them - DS loves the sensory feedback of flour :)


I don't know why but we never got round to doing this, probably because we were too busy playing chase to do them! Plus I see that as a rainy day activity which we don't seem to have had too many of them here since we've been home *hooray*


13) Invite a friend over to play and create a picnic in the garden.


This has been one of my faves! We invited his best friend from his class over and they had a great play day :) DS and I drove to pick her up where she was waiting for us in her house, she jumped in the car and we drove to our house. They played in the garden, with balloons, drawing and painting - it was ace! When it was time to take her home again, DS waved her off and inside she went - we will definitely be inviting her over again even though I was so tempted to keep her! ;)



14) Make a den on a rainy day and watch DVDs from it with cool treats and drinks


As it is chucking it down here, this is one we will be doing today! I already have the blankets ready to make a den with and can I just say? I am awesome at making dens! ;) ;)


15) Fill the paddling pool up and pop in a sachet of 'Gelli Baff' which will turn the water into a blue lagoon or red, green depending on which colour you go for.
We love this and use them in the bath for a great sensory play experience

Attempted this one but for some reason DS is off his paddling pool so away it went...


16) Invite DS's favourite family and friends round for tea/BBQ


This one is to do........:)


17) Visit the Zoo.


Everytime I called the zoo to see what quiet-ish days they had, I always told "ah no, we're heaving today love" so being wise and all that, I decided to steer clear of the zoo! :/

18) Visit the Safari Park - the monkeys are our favourite animal :)


We did this as the beginning of the holidays! We chose a day to go that Peppa Pig was there so we met her :) went on rides and did the scary safari drive! The biggest baboon sat on my car and knackered my squirters! They are fixed now - oh and a party of them had a picnic on my roof!
I've had my car from new and its just 5 years old now, coming out of there it looked like it was 12 years old! But all in the name of fun eh? *stares at bashed car*



19) Have a fab time on holiday


This was a mega success and a awesome time had by all! :) :) :) :)



20) Swim in the local pool.


We do this every single week with my half boy and half fish child :) :)


21) Make daisy chains


Didn't come across any sadly...


22) Make some play-dough and use different food colouring for different colours


Again, doing this week as I deem this as a rainy day activity..


23) Do some pavement chalking - I have some cool chunky chalks that I got from a charity shop that's perfect for this


Yep - we did this and even went a step further by chalking the trampoline as the first rain washes it off! :)



24) PARENTS ONLY - Try to stay mentally sane and hide in bathroom when need a quiet cup of tea or a glass of wine! :) :)


I didn't even had to try as DS was amazing! But I know other people who find the holidays hard going! I use to find it tough too...


25) When things go wrong or not to plan, try not to get too hung up about it. I learn from it and try to move on with the attitude that tomorrow is a whole brand new day! I expect some ups and downs


So true and a mantra I still stick to!


I have started to talk to DS about school now and am showing him pictures everyday of class and teaching staff. So far its going good, he is engaged and even smiling at the pictures :)
I will talk to him today about school once I have made the den and we will go through the staff names :)


Yesterday, I took him to Clarks to get his feet measured and get some new shoes.
He coped brilliantly! He was even happy to keep his school shoes on.



All good signs I think, so in the meantime, I will keep talking to him about school as well as keeping my fingers crossed!


I hope all your super Autism Mums and Dads out there have survived the holidays and even enjoyed them!


Speak soon xx






2 comments:

  1. Awww what a lovely summer you have had, great to read about the things you have done. DS will go back to school refreshed and full of all the skills and things he has learnt over the 6 weeks. I think the holidays add so much to our kids lives - good for you planning exciting things. Time to do an autumn list now :) xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you! What a great idea - a Autumn list!! :)
    I'm on it already..........:) xx

    ReplyDelete