Looking for people experiencing similar problems

I feel for you, my son is 16 and also has no social interaction outside his gaming. His friends are also in in different countries and they are all up when he needs to be sleeping! We disable the wifi to his gaming at a reasonable hour but get "you are ruining my only chance of friendships, worst mother ever etc. 

Would your husband consider doing a parenting course for parents of children with autism? 

It is so lonely and you know you can't talk to a friend with a neurotypical child as it is totally different! 

Sorry you are going through a hard time and I can't offer much help as I am going through it as well. I guess sometimes knowing you aren't alone helps a little. 

Thank you, I’m sorry you’re going through similar, it is comforting to know I’m not alone in my struggle I just wish things weren’t so hard for us. I question myself all the time about what I’m doing, it’s not easy is it. My husband mentioned switching off the WiFi at a certain time which I know will cause issues in itself but needs to be done. I don’t know how he would feel about a parenting course I think maybe if we did it together, as I think it would be helpful for myself also, thank you for the idea and for responding to me, I really appreciate it. 

Sorry when I suggested the parenting course I meant as a couple. That way you work as a team. Hopefully he will consider it. 

You don't get a manual when you have kids. You just have to figure it out and that is challenging enough! but when you are bringing up an autistic child it is so hard no matter how much experience you get along the way. As much as an autistic child struggles to see the world the way we do, equally we struggle to see the world the way they do.

Trying to figure out if we are doing things right or wrong means we end up being too hard on ourselves.

As for the sleep issue you have, you say you struggle to get her to sleep at a reasonable hour? When you take computer away at 11pm, what does she do instead rather than going to bed? 

I hope things get better for you

Please no need to apologise, I've been looking to see what is available online that we can look into podcasts and workshops etc. It's hard to know where to start and feeling overwhelmed with their needs and information overload.

I agree we are too hard on ourselves, I have to remind myself I'm trying my best.

She generally listens to music scrolls on phone, we had to loosen the restrictions a little on her phone, sometimes she feels like its when she has the most energy and tidy's her room!

She has gotten out of routine again as we did manage to improve her sleep pattern and she was waking before her alarms, but it's difficult now with the late night gaming/socialising argument and she feels like there's more for her to do then than during the day. Its difficult as she's kind of right, when everyone else is at work etc she's not going to school, she feels more bored and lonely in the day.

Being at work myself I can't be there to make sure she gets up at a fairly decent time. 

Please no need to apologise, I've been looking to see what is available online that we can look into podcasts and workshops etc. It's hard to know where to start and feeling overwhelmed with their needs and information overload.

I agree we are too hard on ourselves, I have to remind myself I'm trying my best.

She generally listens to music scrolls on phone, we had to loosen the restrictions a little on her phone, sometimes she feels like its when she has the most energy and tidy's her room!

She has gotten out of routine again as we did manage to improve her sleep pattern and she was waking before her alarms, but it's difficult now with the late night gaming/socialising argument and she feels like there's more for her to do then than during the day. Its difficult as she's kind of right, when everyone else is at work etc she's not going to school, she feels more bored and lonely in the day.

Being at work myself I can't be there to make sure she gets up at a fairly decent time.