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It’s the final stretch of Term 1, and you’re noticing the signs: your child’s more emotional than usual, mornings are a battle, and the after-school hours feel like an emotional rollercoaster. You’re probably asking yourself – why is my child so exhausted when there’s only a few weeks to go?

If your child is autistic, ADHD, or tends to experience emotions deeply, the end of Term 1 can feel like an emotional wipeout. The masking, the constant changes, the effort to stay regulated – it all adds up. And for many of us, the crash hits hard.

We’ve been feeling it here, too. After weeks of pushing through, our household is limping toward the holidays. And I know we’re not alone. In the past few weeks, I’ve heard from so many parents saying the same thing – “we’re just trying to make it to the end.”

If you’re dealing with school refusal, emotional explosions, or just a deep sense that your child is not okay right now – this post is for you.

As a mum to two boys who are both autistic and ADHD, I’ve spent years learning how to navigate these emotional dips – and this term has tested all of us. Between homeschool re-registration, a cyclone, and my oldest navigating Year 11 and his first girlfriend (plus a few personal revelations of my own), I’ve seen firsthand how emotional overload builds – and how important it is to pause and regroup.

In this article, you’ll learn:

You’re not imagining it – Term 1 is hard. But there are things we can do to make the load lighter.

What Makes Term 1 So Hard for Kids with Big Emotions?

The start of the school year is full of change – and for many neurodivergent kids or those with big emotions, change equals stress.

Even if things seem to be going smoothly on the surface, underneath there’s often a lot going on. What looks like coping might actually be masking – and that takes a serious toll over time.

Here’s why Term 1 tends to hit harder:

And let’s not forget – even the good stuff can be hard. Starting something exciting like Year 7 or getting more independence can still trigger stress when your nervous system is already overloaded.

So while other kids might be winding down by Week 9, our kids might just be holding it together by a thread.

The Signs of End-of-Term Exhaustion

By Week 8 or 9, a lot of kids are tired – but for those who are neurodivergent or emotionally sensitive, the signs of exhaustion often show up as more than just tiredness.

You might be seeing things that feel out of character, or noticing that strategies that usually work… just aren’t.

Here are some common signs your child is emotionally wiped out:

“My 7-year-old daughter wakes up with a stomach ache every school day and refuses to get ready. It’s been like this since preschool. I’m losing work, I’m losing my mind – and I feel so alone.”

a parent in a LOCAL support group

These are not signs of laziness, defiance, or being ‘naughty’ – they’re red flags from a nervous system that’s in survival mode.

A Personal Term 1 Recap from Our Family

This term has been a big one for us too – probably one of the most intense starts to a year we’ve had in a long time.

We began Term 1 with homeschool re-registration for both boys. That meant pulling together a full year’s worth of documentation – and I’ll be honest, I’d dropped the ball. I’d been so focused on launching Aromapix that I hadn’t kept up with tracking and paperwork like I normally do.

On top of that, I had to write two separate two-year education plans – one for Mr 12, starting Year 7, and one for Mr 16, who’s entering Years 11 and 12. Year 7 feels familiar… but senior high school? Whole different ballgame.

We had to choose subjects, figure out resources, align learning plans to outcomes – and do it all in a way that made sense for his brain and learning style. It took weeks of mental energy, but we got there – and were approved for two full years for both boys, which was a huge relief.

All the while, the weather has been wild – hot, humid, and then a cyclone (which is rare in our subtropical corner of the world). Mr 16 also got a girlfriend – which, of course, means extra driving, emotional support, and navigating this new chapter of teenage life.

Somewhere in all of this, I’ve been working with a psychologist to better understand my own ADHD – and it’s brought up a lot of unprocessed childhood trauma. That’s been confronting. I keep telling myself I’ll dive into all my nervous system tools soon – but like many of us with ADHD, I have the resources… it’s the using them that’s the challenge.

So, I’ve been leaning hard on Console – and writing. A lot. Aromapix is almost ready to launch, and that’s kept me anchored. But underneath it all, I can feel the emotional toll of this term. It’s no wonder our kids are feeling it too.

Why This Isn’t Just Behaviour – It’s Nervous System Overload

When our kids start acting out, shutting down, or refusing to engage, it’s easy to fall into the trap of focusing on behaviour. But behaviour is just the surface — it’s what’s happening underneath that really matters.

For kids with big emotions or neurodivergence, the end of Term 1 isn’t just tiring — it’s completely draining. That’s because their nervous systems have been working overtime for weeks.

Here’s what’s going on:

All of this pulls energy from their nervous system — and there’s no endless supply. Eventually, something has to give.

What looks like “being difficult” is often:

And the truth is — we feel it too.

If you’re finding yourself less patient, more overwhelmed, or emotionally frayed… you’re likely riding that same wave of exhaustion. Our nervous systems are deeply connected to our kids’, especially when we’re doing so much co-regulating.

The good news? Once we understand the why, we can stop blaming the behaviour — and start supporting the human underneath.

How to Support Your Child (and Yourself) Through the End of Term

When the tank is empty, pushing harder rarely helps. What our kids need most in these final weeks isn’t discipline or motivation – it’s support, softness, and space to breathe.

Here are a few ways to lighten the emotional load – for them and for you:

Lower the demands

This isn’t the time to expect peak performance. Simplify routines, skip what you can, and soften your expectations. If homework causes stress, leave it. If mornings are chaotic, focus on connection over correction.

Create pockets of calm

Think of these as nervous system pit stops. A dimly lit room, time outside under a tree, or quiet time with headphones and an audiobook. Calm doesn’t have to mean silence – it just means less stimulation.

Support co-regulation

You don’t have to fix every emotion – but your presence can help regulate it. Sit beside them during a meltdown. Offer a long hug. Breathe together slowly. Use your emotional toolkit – we often reach for Calmer, Steady, or Brave, depending on the moment.

Offer sensory recovery

Baths, movement, essential oil rollers, swings, fidget toys, or aromatherapy playdough – all of these help discharge the stress stored in their bodies. The goal is not productivity – it’s relief.

Use oils intentionally

Essential oils can be powerful cues for emotional support:

Validate their experience

Say it out loud: “You’ve had a big term. It makes sense that you’re feeling this way.” When we name it, we normalise it – and that’s often all a child needs to feel understood.

Care for yourself too

This emotional load isn’t just theirs. We carry it with them. Take small windows of time to care for your nervous system – even 5 minutes of quiet with your favourite oil, or a few deep breaths before you re-enter the room.

What the School Holidays Are For – Recovery, Not Productivity

When the school holidays arrive, it’s tempting to fill them with plans – playdates, appointments, catch-ups, day trips, even “catch-up” learning. But for kids who’ve spent Term 1 masking, regulating, and holding it all together, what they really need is time to decompress.

This is a chance to let their nervous systems reset – not to get ahead, but to come back to centre.

Here’s how to make that happen:

Keep things slow and predictable

Where possible, stick to a gentle rhythm at home. Fewer transitions. More time in pyjamas. Let them wake naturally, eat slowly, and just be.

Protect the unstructured time

Boredom is not the enemy – it’s often the gateway to creativity and calm. Avoid over-scheduling. Give them room to rest and rediscover what feels good.

Build in co-regulation rituals

These don’t have to be elaborate. Try:

Support emotional expression through play

Play is how kids process their world. Sensory crafts, storytelling, role play, or aromatherapy playdough can help them release built-up tension and reconnect with themselves.

Give yourself permission to rest too

You don’t have to entertain, educate, or optimise the holidays. Your nervous system needs care, too. If your child sees you resting, they learn that it’s safe – and necessary – to slow down.

Final Thoughts – You’re Not Alone in the Term 1 Crash

If this term has felt like a marathon, you’re not imagining it – it’s been a lot. And if your child is falling apart a bit right now, that’s not a failure. It’s a sign that they’ve been working really hard to hold it together.

Whether you’re navigating meltdowns, school refusal, or just a general sense of “we’re all done” – you are not alone.

Supporting kids with big emotions takes courage, consistency, and a whole lot of emotional labour. And it’s okay if you’re tired too. You’ve been holding a lot.

Now is the time to soften everything you can – your pace, your plans, your expectations. Let the holidays be what they need to be: a chance to rest, reconnect, and repair.

And if you’d like a gentle tool to help you support your child’s emotions (and your own), you’re welcome to download my Free Essential Oils and Emotions Tracker – a simple way to match how your child is feeling with an oil that can help.

Take what works, leave the rest, and go gently. You’re doing an amazing job – even on the hard days.Take what works, leave the rest, and go gently. You’re doing an amazing job – even on the hard days.