Autism, School Holidays & Why Camping Is Never “Normal” 🏕️

School holidays arrived, and with them, our annual reminder that routine is a social construct and “relaxing family time” is… aspirational at best 😅

This year we went all in: a family camping trip to the beach.

Enter my autistic daughter, unimpressed from the outset.

“Mum… why would you organise a camping trip to the beach? You know I hate the beach.
And also… how will Santa find us?” 🎅

Fair questions, honestly.

Now, we’ve long accepted that the beach is a love–hate relationship in our household. The sand? A sensory crime. The wind? Rude. The unpredictability? Offensive.

But once she’s in the water salt washing away the world she’s home. Calm. Centred. Free 🌊

Sometimes, for our kids (and for us), we have to push through the hard bits to reach the reward. And sometimes that push looks like sandy feet, gritted teeth, and reminding yourself why you came.

A few days in and… we’re doing okay.
Some sensory overwhelm.
A few sleepless nights thanks to torrential rain and mysteriously leaking tents (because of course ⛈️).

But hey, we’re having fun, right?

Cue the daily refrain:

“This isn’t normal.”
“I want to go home.”
“Please mum, when I fall asleep, can I wake up in my bed at home?” 😬

Oh dear.

The next morning arrives.
She has not magically teleported home.

I’m not entirely sure what to tell her at this point, except the truth:
We are in this together… for a few more nights 🤝

Then something shifts.

She builds her own campfire 🔥
There are toasted marshmallows.
Perfectly melted chocolate.
Golden, gooey s’mores 🍫

And just like that, the narrative changes.

Suddenly, she’s having the time of her life.

The beach isn’t so bad.
Camping isn’t so weird.
This might even be… fun ✨

The next day, the baton of overwhelm is passed to my autistic 14-year-old son.

Now, this is a kid who loves the outdoors.
Fishing. Beach days. Endless fresh air 🎣
He even brought his best mate along.

But alas, his social battery is depleted. His wider friend group beckons. He must be reunited immediately 📱

By day nine (we planned eleven, because optimism is wild), we make the executive decision to head home early.

And look, I’ll be honest.

I’m autistic too.
And a hot shower.
And my own bed.
Are suddenly looking very appealing 🚿🛏️

So we pack up early.
We leave tired.
Sun-kissed.
Sandy.
Full of stories.

Camping wasn’t smooth.
It wasn’t “normal.”
But it was ours 💛

And yes, I’d do it again.

I’ve always loved camping. It’s where my ADHD runs wild and free, chasing ideas, tides, and sunsets 🌅 while my autistic self keeps me grounded, anchored in routine, reflection, and knowing when it’s time to pack up and go home.

Because at the end of the day, I’m all about making memories for my kids the kind they’ll laugh about later, retell with dramatic flair, and look back on knowing they were deeply loved, even when things were hard 🏕️✨

And honestly?
That balance is kind of magic 💫

By Kylie Gardner

The A List 💛