Holidays can feel magical — and overwhelming — for neurodivergent kids. This is how we support our son through the noise, change, and sensory load of the season, especially after starting over in a new home.

A cross-country move can feel terrifying for a neurodivergent child. Planning videos, photos, weather research, and even preparing our cats helped my son feel anchored when everything else changed. This is the story of how we rebuilt safety—one predictable moment at a time.

With Halloween just behind us and the holidays fast approaching, I’ve been thinking about how celebrations can look so different when you’re raising a neurodivergent child. Our Halloween didn’t look like everyone else’s—and that’s exactly what made it perfect.