Hi all, just feeling overwhelmed, my just turned 4 year old is on a waiting list for an autism assessment science February 23, I raised it with health visitors when she was around 2 1/2 -3 she scored high in some questionaires at her last general assesment so has been finally put on the waiting list they said before hand she was to young. Any way her Nursery say she's shown traits but nothing they would have brought up, she has her school place for September. I am doing a online course to raise my awareness around it as I noticed traits but wanted to broaden my knowledge.
My mum and friend who have worked in childcare have mentioned to me they think she could be autistic. One half of my family doesn't think she is and puts it down to behaviour. Her dad is slightly supportive but more just going along with things he's only been in her life for around a year.
Essentially sometimes I feel like her behaviours are just down to me giving in, for example she's having melt downs because she thinks that's how she gets what she wants Vs Im giving in because I think she's having a meltdown because she's autistic, for example we were on holiday and there was a dolphin show and it was something the other children we where with and those around us where enjoying but she was screaming the whole time so I took her out, another time we where at a church with music around Christmas and needed to sit still for around an hour and she started saying she wanted to go so I took her out, family on both occasions have had a go at me saying I should of told her to carry on with it ect I just feel like if she's hating something and going to end up screaming I will get embarrassed and flustered and break her trust also so to keep face / for an easy life I remove her from the situation. This makes me feel like she's missing out.
I am trying to learn more about the condition and have put in place charts and also show her videos or pictures of somewhere new before we go, we bring snacks, toys and her tablet to keep her distracted.
On the other hand as it's just me and her she is totally demanding, she's rude to strangers and can shout/ ignore them when they try and talk which is embarrassing, when I'm busy working from home or trying to do housework she constantly demands my attention.
She has had a session with a speech therapist and they said there's no concerns, however her speech was delayed.
She also has poor sleep habits so I'm exhausted and I keep trying to balance going out with her and meeting people with the knowledge that it's got to be short and sweet because she will meltdown.
Sorry for the long essay just wanted another take or some advice, thank you.
