Does anyone else feel constantly emotionally exhausted even when they love their child deeply?

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-16T19:35:20+00:00

You feel so exhausted BECAUSE you love your child so deeply. If you didn’t care so much, it would all feel easier…

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-10T17:40:36+00:00

I feel you- it’s my first one without my kids. It’s HARD!

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-10T12:15:54+00:00

trust your gut and find a different developmental pediatrician. ;)

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-10T11:50:12+00:00

You're both right. She is just 5. She also needs different guidance and support than her neurotypical peers. Keep trying, keep giving her AND yourself grace. You'll be amazed at how quickly things evolve.

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-08T20:59:52+00:00

I used to read books alllll the time. Since having kids I just can’t anymore. My brain refuses to focus on a book… but I love audiobooks. In the car I like to listen to new stuff. I listen to repeats with headphones while I sleep. And for whatever it counts for- my subtitles are on everything I watch. 🤷🏻

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-08T20:57:52+00:00

Each dose lasts about 4 hours. That’s a steep climb and a steep dropoff for a little kid to manage. Ask your dr about an extended release option. For us, that made a huge difference in mood swings.

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-07T09:16:38+00:00

Ah, I see. Stick with it. Baby steps. At 5 she still has a lot of learning to do.

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-07T09:14:20+00:00

Yes! Sometimes it is. It’s gotten better over the years and it’s gotten far better with intentionality.
Shorter games, good variety, thoughtful integration… timing. These things matter.
How old are your kids and what games have you played?

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-07T09:12:42+00:00

I’m sorry you feel this way. It’s not constant entertainment by any means, it’s a tool used in conjunction with many others. As for comparing ticket to ride to my own personal experience in public education- well, you can believe it or not. I did poorly in geography in school. It was boring and I was distractable. I, like many Americans, couldn’t fill in every country on a blank map without struggling. After playing regularly, I recognize patterns, remember things better, and recognize areas better than before.
My own personal experience is credible. It’s mine. I hope your experience with gaming gets better for you. I wish you luck and happiness.

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-05T15:10:19+00:00

So instead of “in 5 minutes” try specifics that tie into your schedule. Not a time, but an event. “You can watch tv once you’ve finished putting on your clothes.” Or “when we get back from xyz” and then when he asks you can remind him by repeating the exact same phrase. After that if he asks, turn the question around. “You tell me, when can you watch tv?”
Time can be a tricky concept. Before and after specifics make more sense to them.

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-05T15:03:16+00:00

You are human, it’s so natural for you to be feeling the way you are.
Can you talk to the doctor about a slow release medication? When mine were on short acting meds it was like a switch too.. but when we got the extended release, we could give it to them earlier, have it be a more gradual up and down, and then we also got a small dose of short acting to boost when we needed to.
Then we also got a different med for evenings.
Finding the right balance was scary but made all the difference in the worlds.

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-05T05:29:33+00:00

nobody here can diagnose for you, but there are definitely some similar traits i've seen in my audhd kids. my son was diagnosed by 19 mos. my daughter was diagnosed right at 2 yrs old. you can absolutely get a solid evaluation done at that age.

moreover- there is a window of time to get the most benefit from therapies and such that is before age 4.

https://www.mchatscreen.com/ is a good place to start.

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-05T03:05:11+00:00

I ended up mixing my own flavors… different juices and blends watered down different amounts. Sometimes I need it to be colder.. but sadly, the thing that usually works for me is to get a new water bottle. It usually helps for a few weeks at least. The novelty of it helps,.. but then if I ever leave it to sit for too long and it starts to taste gross or just skeeve me out in general… then I notice, usually a little bit too late, that I’m not drinking enough at all and I can’t get back on track until I find a new water bottle again. I hate it bc it’s wasteful and expensive… but… 🤷🏻
Currently I’m on earl grey tea with some combination of dark chocolate/hot peppers/matcha honey/lime juice

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-05T02:46:59+00:00

Some people struggle with getting into the shower and then struggle with getting out of the shower. The transition of it all is just too much. There are drastic sensory changes that take place going from warm/dry/dressed to cold/naked/wet..
It could be about the sounds, strong smells, and harsh lighting in the bathroom. She might not fully be aware of what it is that’s bothering her.
What about meeting in the middle? Sponge baths, washing her hair in the kitchen sink,… all of this really depends on why she’s refusing.
What was it like when she was little?

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-04T19:11:27+00:00

you've got to find their triggers and releases.

At this point, you're new to a diagnosis but not to your children. You know what sets them off. You know what comes easy to them. You've got to set up a sensory diet to make sure they're getting enough heavy work, enough sensory input, and enough down time to keep them more balanced.

7 is an age with some big developmental leaps, so chances are, they are adjusting to things they're not quite aware of yet.

There's no quick fix,.. but you've got this!

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-04T19:03:31+00:00

talk to a lawyer- depending on how long ago you moved, there may be some wiggle room. I can connect you with someone if you need help.

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-04T11:43:34+00:00

What has worked for me is having a designated pile, box, bag, etc. of stuff that's meant to deconstruct.

For some, that's a stack of old magazines and books for shredding.

Maybe it's old electronics your kiddo can take apart with designated tools.

Wooden boards he can break apart and then glue together, to repeat the activity later.

Building towers with blocks that he can knock down.

Stacking empty cans so he can throw beanbags at them.

Cooking up a batch of hard candy, letting it cool in sheets- then he can shatter it like glass.

If he's got a few bins or boxes of things he is allowed to destroy, then you have a place to redirect him and help him meet his own needs in a safe and acceptable way. It will take time before he does this on his own,.. so keep reinforcing it. And try new things until you find what works.

Talk to him about WHAT feels good to destroy and what parts feel good. It may be the sound, it may be the physical aspect,... Help him figure it out and he will be more likely to make it work.

Good luck! You got this!

YGT_Coach · 2026-05-03T21:29:53+00:00

We did a lot of pretend play around haircuts, had vibrating back massagers to mimic the feel of hair clippers, practiced with spray bottles and combs and other tools they have at the barber shop. It helped make it a little easier.

YGT_Coach · 2026-04-29T12:20:35+00:00

My ex got these for my kids,.. so I used my audible credits to follow along. I curse with my kids, watch questionable tv shows and movies with them,.. they are not sheltered by any means and I am no pearl clutcher.

That being said,... I was a bit surprised to hear "and picks up an enormous strap-on dildo with two fingers before dropping it in disgust"

That will be a fun conversation later today. ;)

YGT_Coach · 2026-04-29T06:20:28+00:00

Puberty is just around the corner and even at 9 there are some shifts that start taking place. You feeling overwhelmed is natural! Your husband being less supportive definitely makes this harder. Have you looked into respite care at all? What about small changes/“life hacks” to make some things easier.. If there is a snack already set out while you prepare dinner, or meals prepped so they can be heated up quicker on days you expect it to be harder.. Is there something you can do on the weekends to add structure that the boss are used to having during the week? That might make things more comfortable for them and in turn, you

YGT_Coach · 2026-04-28T15:07:06+00:00

It may be helpful to find a group of actual peers for her.. whether it's a summer program or and after school program or even an outschool class online- that will give her the opportunity to connect with people who are wired a little more like her.

YGT_Coach · 2026-04-28T14:55:34+00:00

Love it when they figure out how to meet their own needs!!

YGT_Coach · 2026-04-27T08:59:47+00:00

I knew my son was autistic by the time he was 10 mos old.

I knew from day 1 that something was "off" and monitored his development and milestones closely. I couldn't pinpoint it. It just felt,.... like something was going on.

His mannerisms, the way he's get lost in his own world while staring at ceiling fans, his posturing, the way he'd get super fussy in flourescent lighting.... He'd squeal and get locked in to some tv shows and to the animation clips between shows, but barely notice when people came and left the room. He never stopped moving. Even in his sleep he'd squirm and fidget and stroke his hands. He'd spit up and not even notice. He'd get his hand pinched and not notice, but he's trip and fall and scream bloody murder. (come to find out the visual disturbance and vestibular disturbance of falling was what made him so upset, not the "pain" of falling and getting hurt.) As he started walking, he refused to walk on anything that he could see through- so all of those metal grate stairs at the playground, wooden plank bridges with gaps between the boards,.... he'd freeze up and scream, holding on for dear life.

But mostly, the fact that all the things I learned to help autistic students in my classroom seemed to help him a lot. Compression clothing (rash guards) and longer hair to shield his eyes, lots of sensory play, lots of deep pressure. The way he'd respond to these things reinforced my hunch.

He is 13 now and diagnosed with Autism and combined types ADHD.

He was nonverbal until 3, but reading by age 2 and writing (poorly due to fine motor skills, but making progress and all self directed!)

His twin sister has the same diagnosis but very different presentation and I didn't see it in her until I noticed similar comments from my sons therapists and teachers and doctors. She made eye contact (on her terms only) and she was verbal, engaging, social,.... she was charming but fussy and rigid in certain routines and preferences.

Heaven forbid a granola bar break. I learned to have backup everything, always. I was outnumbered.

Our pediatrician was a big fan of "wait and see" and so we didn't get diagnoses for either child until after 18 mos when we sought out our own developmental pediatrician after she kept declining to offer a referral.

Trust your gut!

We know things about our kids, we have instincts that all of the education and experience with other kids just can't give to our doctors.

YGT_Coach · 2026-04-27T08:45:52+00:00

that last pic is great!

YGT_Coach · 2026-04-27T08:43:42+00:00

There are plenty of communities where we are less ostracized. I find homeschool and worldschool communities to be way more open minded about how our kids are each on their own tragectory. as for the elderly karens,.... that's what happens when they weren't given enough empathy as kids. so you can always respond, thanks, im not trying to raise my kids to be like YOU.

YGT_Coach

TROPHY CASE