Supporting Yourself (and Your Neurodivergent Kids) Through the Winter Holidays

It’s the beginning of the winter school holidays here in Australia – it's cold where I live, viruses are going around - and this is a particularly challenging time for many. Today I'm sharing some ideas that might help throughout this time.

And to anyone who finds this time difficult, I want to say: I see you. This can be challenging. It can feel like too much. And you’re not alone.

With the weather not necessarily ideal for outdoor activities, viruses doing the rounds, and the general vibe of hibernation that this season brings, it can feel like such a stretch to meet both our own and our children's needs.

So I want to gently remind you: you have permission to let the season be what it is – a slower, more inward time.

To go more slowly.
To rest where possible.
To cosy up.
To say no if you feel a no.
To not push through.

You have permission to:

• Lean into screen use more

• Simplify your days

• Ask someone else to help or have your children, or enrol them in school holiday programs (if that’s possible)

• Put a movie (or three) on, get the popcorn, and bring out the doonas – maybe even make a cosy nest in the lounge

• Eat the easy food

For neurodivergent folk, our sensory environment plays a powerful role in supporting our nervous system – and, in turn, our overall well-being. Today’s newsletter is all about tending to your nervous system through your environment.

If you’ve been part of the Brilliant Little Gems community for a while, you’ll know how much I value the impact of environment on our well-being. While this perspective is deeply embedded in my practice as a social worker, it’s also something I’ve expanded on in both my work and my personal life – especially in relation to the physical, sensory, and functional elements of home.

Some of the things I’m doing to honour this season and my capacity:

• Using the slow cooker to throw things in late morning, to make evenings feel easier – and by the time dinner comes, it’s almost like someone else cooked us a meal.

• Using lamps for a cosy, relaxed vibe, and sometimes lighting a candle (out of reach of curious hands… that time my 7-year-old came to me with his hand covered in melted wax is a story for another day – he wasn’t hurt).

• Checking in with my body, noticing what I need to take care of myself: drinking more water, taking Vitamin C and Zinc, and eating more soups.

• Letting my kids have plenty of screen time on some days (they love Minecraft).

When we support our own nervous systems – through tending to our sensitive sensory systems – the benefits ripple through our family life.

If you could choose just one thing to do to support yourself this week, what would it be?