We're waist-deep in teenage and special needs growing pains. One of the more typical problems right now is that our house is way too small. No one besides Gavin really has their own space.
Lizze and I do okay, but Elliott and Emmett are very much struggling right now.
Elliott needs his space and Emmett isn't adjusting to the change. Wars are waged on the daily, and it's just getting worse. Their room is way too small for them, and the only actual personal space they have is their beds, and that's only if the boundaries are respected.
Elliott and Emmett need their own space, and in our current situation, they just don't have it.
Emmett needs the light on at night, and Elliott needs it off. Portable lighting doesn't work because Emmett is sensitive to light and also terrified of the dark. He has to have the lights on during the day as well.
Elliott is the opposite and prefers it darker.
Compromise is impossible because it's a black and white issue for them. Kids with Autism often view things in black and white, making compromise difficult at best.
We have one bathroom, and with all the medical issues, people are fighting over it because their bodies don't follow a set schedule. Some days things are okay, and others, some people are constantly in need of the bathroom. Our bathtub allows for about six inches of water and a human body. It's very old, short and shallow. Very shallow.
This is a very overwhelming situation because we have tried for years to make this work, but it's pretty clear that even temporary solutions aren't effective anymore.
We can deal with the bathroom stuff but giving the boys their own space is a major issue, and there's no immediate fix.
I desperately need to figure something out because the boys are constantly fighting, and the constant fighting is driving me crazy. The stress makes Lizze's health issues worse and further complicates things. As it is, she's not doing well, and things are very tough right now.
Unfortunately, we're in a position that many special needs families find themselves in. The demands are constant; resources are extremely limited, and the stress is unbearable.
