My daughter, almost 5, is a sensory seeker. I suspected it not long after we adopted her at 2. My husband would never listen to me when I tried to discuss it. I left him about 3 months ago (for other reasons). I know I'm extra tired now due to moving and being a single parent, but even before that, I've been so worn out.

I would just love to hear from someone else that I'm not imagining this. Does anyone else get completely worn out from parenting a sensory seeking child? Please tell me this is normal!

From the moment she wakes up its non-stop movement and noise and wanting me to do something for her or with her. She can't keep herself occupied for more than a couple minutes at a time, not even TV works. She has pretty much every symptom listed for sensory seekers, and none of the others. On days when we go someplace she is easier to deal with, it keeps her stimulated. The noisier and more crowded with opportunities to be upside down, the better for her, But then I get more tired and don't get work done at home that I need to. When we are at home all day, she's never still, I still can't get anything here done so I'm still worn out. It never ends, except when she's at preschool a couple days a week, which isn't nearly enough time for me to really get anything done. She stopped napping at 2. I have a little bit of time after she falls asleep at night, but of course I'm too tired by that time to do anything productive.

And does anyone else have problems with other people understanding how difficult a sensory seeker can be to parent, how tiring they are? My husband doesn't get it. My attorney doesn't seem to (she also has a young child, presumably without SPD, I'm thinking of replacing her anyway for a number of reasons). Other people, sometimes even family, think she's just a bad behaved kid. Trying to explain it to anyone is near impossible. It seems most people aren't familiar with SPD.

I found an OT therapist recently and will soon be seeing her regularly. I already brush her (but should do it more) and we'll be doing the therapeutic listening stuff.

But I know it will be a while before she's calmer. Meanwhile, some days are really difficult. It doesn't help that I tend to lean in the other direction where for me a perfect day would be one where I stay home and read all day. Her perfect day would be the noisiest, busiest place that she can be upside down a lot at and grab everything.

Does anyone know of an article I could print out and give to people that explains a little about sensory seeking kids and what it is like to parent them? I need to figure out how I'm going to start supporting myself financially but I can barely get quiet time to think clearly much less get on the computer and start figuring out what my options are. People don't seem to get that. Even now, its taken forever for me to write this post with a zillion interruptions.