A neurodiverse family’s typical holiday plans disrupted
For us, the holidays have always meant family.
Almost every year since we became a neurodiverse family of three (then four…then five + dog), we have traveled from the Washington DC area to North Carolina to visit parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, and friends. It’s part of the rhythm of our season.
But earlier this season, we needed to change things up to be there for a family member who had a hard year and couldn’t be home for the holidays.
So, we headed south to Miami, FL, and did our best to minimize disruption for our neurodiverse family and turn different into good. Here’s how it went from the kids’ point of view…
Rocketaround Q 1: What did think about doing something different for Thanksgiving?
Jeffrey – That was Thanksgiving? Oh yeah, I guess it was – it was odd considering it was so warm, but the days were still shorter, so it didn’t seem like Thanksgiving.
Jack – I thought it was cool to have Thanksgiving there. It was a little weird to not be around our grandparents, but we were still around family.
Rocketaround Q 2: What stands out most from the trip?
Jack – I remember the Venetian Pool (Coral Gables) – there were caves and a waterfall that we could go into. I also liked the hot tub at our house.
Jeffrey – What comes to mind for me: Going to Key Biscayne where we swam in a huge pool, and I played volleyball on the sand court. Shooting pool at the house where we stayed – that was unique and rather fun. I thought the food we had when we ate out was good – the fried alligator we ate in the Everglades in particular was pretty good. But then the airlines (Spirit) messed up our flight and that was kind of annoying.
Emma – I liked playing darts at the house we stayed in, and I really liked the grilled cheese at the airport. The airline experience also sticks out in my mind, since we also missed our first flight on the way home because Spirit airlines didn’t have people to help us, and I carried all my stuff on the airline, so it didn’t get lost, but everyone else’s stuff did. If the airlines hadn’t gotten everyone else’s stuff back to us, the airline would have had to pay us like $6000.
Rocketaround Q 3: I thought you all would have talked more about the Everglades – seeing alligators wasn’t that big of a deal?
Jeffrey – The Everglades boat ride was awesome – it went pretty fast and there was no seat belt. But I thought seeing alligators on the ride (we saw two) was pretty odd – they looked too lazy to be scary. The alligator show was interesting and funny – it was like an act, where the alligators knew they were part of it and tried to make a scene.
Rocketaround Q 5: How would you rate the trip overall?
Emma – I’d give it a one (out of two) thumb up – I don’t know if I’d want to go back but it was nice and pretty fun.
Jack – Same – one thumb up – it was cool but not the best.
Jeffrey – Yeah, one thumb up for me too – the house we stayed in was nice, and houses in general in Miami were nice. There was quite a bit to do, but a few of the activities we did were sort of one-time experiences.
Parental POV
The good…Weather was perfect – highs in the lows to mid ’80s every day (although Jeffrey calls that ‘a little chilly’) and clear the entire time.
The not-as-good – Planes, planes, and planes – almost missing numerous flights – mostly because of airline delays on major airlines on the way to Miami, and a combined lack of staff, lack of effective service and check-in technology not working on a budget airline on the way back, lost luggage and onboard internet not working on the trip home.
To minimize disruption –
- Took flights that didn’t leave too early in the morning or get home too late at night, but layovers created numerous issue that we’ll try to avoid in the future through direct flights. And the major airline we took on the way there performed better – much – than the budget one we flew coming home.
- Other than the first night – which we spent in a hotel – everyone had their own bed and we prioritized allowing the kids to sleep in most days, which helped a lot. We also rented a house that looked like it would be a good place to hang out – and we did that in the mornings and at night, on comfy couches, in an ample number of bedrooms, in the game room with a pool table and dart board, and in the backyard which, despite being sort of small, offered a patio with a family-sized table and other outdoor seating, swing, pool, and hot tub.
- Familiar food, with an occasional twist – Renting a house allowed us to have most of the kids’ favorite foods on hand when we were home. When we ate out, we looked for restaurants that had go-to foods like chicken tenders, but would also allow for a stretch, to things like alligator bites and Cuban dishes.
- Sight-seeing in moderation and with plenty of preview statements – Each day, we talked through planned activities, looked at online pictures and descriptions of where we were going and spent between four and seven hours at outdoor venues. That gave us the chance to see many different aspects of Miami – from Hollywood Beach to Miami Beach, the Art Deco District, muscle gyms on the beach, Coral Gables and the Venetian Pool, Key Biscayne, and the Everglades – enjoy the beautiful outdoors, and still give those who needed it necessary downtime.
Overall rating for the trip – Two thumbs up! Interesting, fun, delicious food, lots to do, good mix of family time and downtime, and great weather. One thumb up from two neurodiverse kids is two thumbs up in our book.
Happy holidays to your neurodiverse (or typical) family!