In what universe...?

[Pudmuddle]

ttd, sounds like you found some excellent resources for you son. That will be a relief for you I am sure and very good for you son.

Yes, I decided I was going to MAKE holidays fun and not worry about what negativity might be coming up. I can't stress about that or it will make me really sad. Halloween and Christmas are my fave holidays.

[TryingToDo180]

I'm starting to come to terms now about Christmas and will start to plan soon They've got Christmas gifts all over the place, so however much you try, you can't escape it, lol. I'm going to be too busy soon to wallow in self pity anyway

[Not Quitting]

Yep, guess we have to accept that it's coming, whether we like it or not.

They were pointing out (very kindly, Not ) on the radio this morning that its 2 months Friday til Christmas Day. Just about every store you go into has both Halloween and Christmas stuff out. The city I work in had their workers out last week and again this, putting all the lights on the trees.

A couple of the FB pages I'm linked to are the big Santa Claus parade in the main city near here and the Christmas Market in the same city. Both pages have started posting updates as the parade is on November 17th and the Christmas Market is November 29th to December 15th. And both these are on my son's list of things he wants to do. A couple of the big department stores downtown do window displays as well which he wants to go see, along with the light displays the various different sections of the city do.

I've also told him that he can help plan what decorations we put up outside the house this year, to go along with the string of lights H put up for us last week. We usually have several lighted figures on the front lawn, although last year H couldn't be bothered to do them so we didn't have anything other than the lights which hadn't been taken down from the previous year.

[Not Quitting]

I went to see the college mentor today. I was pleasantly surprised what services they can offer you She going to refer me to a counselling service and ask for a counsellor who practices CBT I hope that's the right one I've got to ask for.
Anyway, this organisation normally costs a lotta money, but I'm getting the service for free Yippee
I also mentioned about finding my son activities to do during the day and she's going to refer him to autism outreach team who may be able to find him something to do

Sometimes you can find help in the most unexpected places.

Glad to hear they can help you and possibly your son as well.

[TryingToDo180]

I agree NQ I was thinking about Christmas this year and how it's going to be very different. Not just because H won't be there, but I'll be making it different You could say I'll be 180ing Christmas No more over the top decorations in the rooms, H used to get those shiny streamers and dangling ones and it just looked really cheap and nasty. I might make some paper chains instead, I've not decided yet.
One of my friends decided one year that she was going to do one thing towards Christmas every day from the 1st November, whether it was cleaning the cutlery, writing Christmas cards, visiting a parade, etc. I was thinking of doing the same this year. She's not one to embrace Christmas, but this helped her get into the spirit of it
I shall definitely be cutting down on the food shopping list. We always went overboard at Christmas and we'll still be eating things out of the freezer at Easter time, lol. I won't be getting as many snacks as last year, I don't really sit down and pig out like I did before. I eat very sensibly now because I like to keep my weight down

[Not Quitting]

I hear you on the food. I've still got a tin of chocolates in the pantry that we bought for last Christmas. Not even sure if they're still edible.

H always put shiny streamers and dangling things in our living room as well (more twin behaviour LOL ). I probably won't put them up, and I'm not going overboard outside either - probably just a couple of the lit trees or something. Saves on electricity costs if nothing else LOL.

[TryingToDo180]

Crikey! They could be Siamese twins! lol. I think this year I'll save buying snacks until last then I won't be tempted to buy them everytime I go shopping
Me and H used to have a cheese and cracker night and we used to buy par baked rolls to have with them as well. I passed a basket in a shop that had an offer on 2 packs of par baked rolls. I picked them up, then thought I don't need these this year, lol. I'll be definitely saving a lot of money It's going to be the most frugal Christmas ever!

[hotwheelsaust]

TTD180, I am really so glad you are getting a chance to go to counselling. That is simply fantastic news. Christmas will be different for us all, in some many different ways. You at least have your son to help celebrate it with you. Doesn't matter how much food you have, there is always left overs after Christmas. That is part of Christmas. You can still eat sensibly, just for a longer time.

[TryingToDo180]

lol HWA. I've eaten sensibly for so long now, I've forgotton how mot to eat sensibly
One thing we'll definitely be munching on is chocolate coated popcorn, yum Actually we're both nuts about popcorn, so I'll just get bags of it
You might get your sons over for Christmas this year with any luck HWA You're never too old to spend Christmas with your Dad
I've had counselling before, but it was more someone to talk to rather than actual practical help. This couselling will be a lot better for me and it might actually help in my relationship with H as well as they normally help out married couples. They do have IC counselling as well

[Pudmuddle]

Are you SURE you two, NQ and TTD, aren't married to the SAME man??? He must be exhausted going from UK to Canada all the time.

I can't believe the similarities between them, lol. Seems mine is falling behind the MLC triplets wagon.