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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

There’s SO much to do!

81 replies

tired206 · 14/12/2019 14:30

I’ve had a few days off work and have spent it cleaning the ground floor of my house and ordering lots of things to prepare for Christmas. I’ve been buying stuff like new rugs, a doormat and scented candles just to make the house look nicer and more comfortable. I still have so much to do but am 19 weeks pregnant and am feeling so rundown and exhausted. On my list:

  • Vacuum and mop all floors (did this two days ago but they’re messy again)
  • Clean out fridge and do online food shop
  • Book dentist for me and DH (it’s been years since our last appointment)
  • Finish buying Christmas presents for family from local shops
  • Buy new glassware
  • Clean bathroom
  • Get a couple of paintings framed and hung
  • Look into different types of cat food and order (fussy cat has gone off usual brand)
  • Collect new glasses from optician
  • Dress house for Christmas - including buying tree and more baubles
  • Look at how best to hang new Christmas lights in window
  • Generally ensure house stays tidy and clean on a day-to-day basis
  • Buy and send Christmas cards to friends who’ve sent them to us - maybe don’t send to those who haven’t!
  • Wrap presents for family
  • Buy new clothes (hardly any of my old stuff fits me now I’m 19 weeks)
  • Clear out airing cupboard on landing which is currently full of old tile samples, paint and lots of other junk
  • Do ruthless declutter of other rooms that need it
  • Source and bug pretty vintage fruit bowl for kitchen table to store loose fruit
  • Hold down day job in the meantime (am back to work on Tuesday afternoon)

AIBU to feel totally overwhelmed by all this? Will my house ever be organised and “done”? It just feels never ending!

OP posts:
Original poster
tired206 · 14/12/2019 16:50

Food shop done and booked for tomorrow evening, tree ordered and Christmas lights put up - woop!

OP posts:
00100001 · 14/12/2019 16:53

If it's been years since the dentist... worry about that in the new year. A few weeks won't make any difference.

Original poster
tired206 · 14/12/2019 17:14

If it's been years since the dentist... worry about that in the new year. A few weeks won't make any difference.

True. I just wanted to get everything "done" before Christmas, but clearly that's not going to be possible!

OP posts:
Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 14/12/2019 17:15

Have you had your NHS card through for free prescriptions while preggo? Make sure you’ve got that before going to see the dentist

TheHootiestChristmasOwl · 14/12/2019 17:15

The problem is I can’t stand having an untidy or disorganised home - it makes me feel so stressed. Friends have warned that I will need to lower my standards...

You’re going to have a child, they’re messy!

SilverySurfer · 14/12/2019 17:17

It's obvious that you wanted to make the list look as long as possible but some of those tasks are ridiculous.

TheHumansAreDefinitelyDead · 14/12/2019 17:20

Chill out, too much self imposed stuff there Grin

Sorry but I laughed at "source fruit bowl" 😂. Just use any old bowl for now and do this some other time

Dr decorations etc are also not important /necessary... New baubles? Use the old ones

Glass ware? Any supermarket

Seriously, half of that list can be scrapped Smile

BloggersBlog · 14/12/2019 17:20

Well I see your list and raise you mine:

Check the tea and see if it's ready
Get the plate out pf the cupboard
Put the food ONTO the plate
Get the cutlery
Find somewhere to sit and eat the food

Not sure how the hell I will fit it all in. Hope you can find time to ring the dentist OP. As for buying clothes...well you've bejiggered me there.

TheHootiestChristmasOwl · 14/12/2019 17:20

Children also break pretty vintage bowls.

kinsss · 14/12/2019 17:25

Sounds frantic to me. And as others have said most of it is unnecessary.

Calm down and try to relax. Very few people can achieve perfection and I am one of them..

Beautiful3 · 14/12/2019 17:29

I think you're giving yourself too much to do! You dont need to do all of those things fir christmas day! Halve the list and save this part for 2020.

Original poster
tired206 · 14/12/2019 17:33

New baubles? Use the old ones

I don't have enough baubles for the tree, hence needing to buy more. I've just ordered a load online!

Some of these responses have made me giggle, thank you! Grin

OP posts:
tenredthings · 14/12/2019 17:38

Ive spent my life thinking I can relax when I get to the end of my to do list , but in reality the more organized you are the more you add and the list is never ending. Make a timetable and add in time for relaxing which is just as important as the rest.

MostIneptThatEverStepped · 14/12/2019 17:38

Will this help for the fruit bowl?

https://www.etsy.com/market/vintagefruitt_bowl

MostIneptThatEverStepped · 14/12/2019 17:40

Or these?

www.etsy.com/es/listing/761037709/a-pretty-hand-painted-vintage-italian

MyChristmasBauble · 14/12/2019 17:40

You don’t have to do all that - you’re just choosing to.

Lifecanonlygetbetter · 14/12/2019 17:45

Don’t bother with Christmas cards. No-one will die if they don’t get one, they will just assume that it’s got lost in the post.

Original poster
tired206 · 14/12/2019 17:49

You don’t have to do all that - you’re just choosing to.

Well yes. I just want a lovely home for Christmas!

@MostIneptThatEverStepped thanks for the Etsy suggestions - there's some gorgeous ones on there!

OP posts:
Nanalisa60 · 14/12/2019 17:51

I was in Aldi this morning and they had lovely glasswear!!

MostIneptThatEverStepped · 14/12/2019 17:53

You're welcome OP!

Online shopping is the way to go.
For everything else, prioritise as others have said, to preserve your strength.
Maybe some of the deep cleaning could be done during the Christmas break when you are more rested.

Nanalisa60 · 14/12/2019 17:54

Also can you ask your mother or best friend for some help with The cleaning?
If anyone I care about ask me for help with the house I happily will give them a few hours of my time!! But then again I do quite like cleaning and making a home look nice.

AuntSpiker · 14/12/2019 17:59

I promise you OP, next Christmas you'll look back at this post and laugh. Your list will probably consist of:

Buy food for Christmas dinner, get some stuff ready made to save time
Get tree up and decorated before Christmas (if possible)
Sling hoover round if there's time
Send cards to as few people as possible
Suggest to others we cut down on presents this year

WhatchaMean · 14/12/2019 18:34

auntspiker it might even be get tree up and try to prevent baby from pulling it down Grin

Notajogger · 14/12/2019 18:57

We have a new baby and AuntSpiker has pretty much hit the nail on the head - that's basically our list. You are going to HAVE to lower your standards & chill before the baby gets here or you'll go mad.

Scrap most of the list - a lot is unnecessary! And certainly unnecessary to do before Xmas. No one will notice or care what you put your fruit in...!

Serin · 14/12/2019 20:17

First world problems.
Other than the dentist
Dont leave that esp if pregnant.

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