“This holiday strengthened our bond as a family. It got me excited about future holidays and has given us something to look forward to.”
Rebecca's Story
For children with autism, holidays can be confusing and difficult. Not knowing how my son Elijah will cope and worrying about whether a change in routine will cause him stress has put me off booking in the past. Where do I start my search? And if I find something, will it be suitable for his needs?
When my Home Start support worker told me we could go on a break with the Family Holiday Charity, I didn’t want to get my hopes up. But when I heard we were going to Bluestone National Park Resort in Pembrokeshire, I was thrilled. I couldn’t wait to tell Elijah, six, and his little brother Alistair, four. The boys were so excited, they kept asking:
How many days until we go, Mummy?
Packing was hectic, but once we were in the car, I relaxed. Our two-hour drive from south to west Wales flew by, and soon we were at the resort, surrounded by beautiful countryside. Our upside-down lodge was a novelty.
The living room was upstairs with views overlooking the park. It had three bedrooms downstairs, but the boys wanted to share a room. Hearing them chat away together at bedtime was lovely. Settling in and relaxing at the lodge felt great.
Just getting away from home had a positive impact on us all. I have anxiety and depression, so not worrying about chores made a difference.
My husband Nathan works in retail and rarely has two days off together, let alone four.
It was amazing having protected time together where both of us could relax while our boys played.
Apart from a supermarket shop, we stayed on site the whole time, meaning Nathan didn’t have to worry about driving. He loved not rushing around and enjoyed a few lie-ins.
The boys were full of smiles as they embarked on new adventures. Elijah has ADHD and autism, and Alistair has behavioural problems, which can make activities hard. A change in routine can be very challenging for Elijah, leading to stress and meltdowns.
But because Bluestone was a home-from-home, we could do lots without upsetting his routine. And Alistair enjoyed himself so much that we saw a noticeable reduction in toileting accidents.
The boys’ favourite part of the holiday was the Blue Lagoon indoor water park. They loved swimming and having quality time with Mummy and Daddy.
Alistair called it ‘fun swimming’, not like his usual lessons, but hours of laughing and splashing in the wave machine and lazy river.
When we got home they couldn’t wait to show their school teachers a souvenir golden keyring they made on their holiday – even Elijah who is usually very shy.
It was wonderful to see him grow in confidence and see him so keen to tell friends and family about the experience.
Before going away, we hadn’t heard of the Family Holiday Charity, but now we are so glad we have.
For families who can’t afford to go away or are facing other barriers, it really does make a positive difference.
Our time together has strengthened our bond as a family. It got me excited about future holidays, so much so that we priced up another while we were there. It gives us something to aim for and will be so nice for the boys—after all, they are only little once.
