Neorodiverse & disorganised mums Christmas solidarity thread!

[AnyoneGotATimeMachine]

Roll up! Frazzled, disorganised people welcome over here!

Every bloody year I promise myself I'll get it done earlier.

But, I still have a mountain of tidying to do before I can even think about decorating or wrapping. The poor tree has been sitting in the garden for 2 days.

Not one room is usable yet.

Hoping to make last posting day tomorrow but that depends on me remembering where I stashed the presents!

But it'll all be alright on the night, won't it?! 5 days is plenty of time to sort out a crazy untidy house finish all my shipping, cards and posting and decorating, right, right?

I'm just hoping the last-minute ADHD panic superpower kicks in soon!

How are you all doing out there? Despite your best intentions, has Christmas snuck up on you again?

Yes, this is me! I'm undiagnosed, early 40s, but currently starting the process. Suspect autistic too.

I follow The Organised Mum Christmas method, as it gives me a few tasks each week. I did, however, fail to get cards out this year, despite buying stamps, because I've misplaced my address book.

Not finished wrapping, but food delivery yesterday was a godsend. I do need to tidy and clean the house, but have spent today in my pyjamas watching TV. I am not good at transitions!

When I do get round to it, though, I will do a pomodoro technique. I'm assuming you lot know what that is, but it's really helped me get tasks done (once I've actually managed to start them)!

I think I’m in the exact same boat as you!

Yes I hang Everything on hangers. I normally tumble what I can..things you can't tumble dry I put in for 30 minutes so they come out steamming and still wet. I streach them.and hang in a window. Problem is there too much hanging in the windows as its built up.

I have re downloaded the organised mum. I might pay extra to get the extra features too going forward.

What is the pomodoro technique @StaySpicy

So my Tesco shop arrived and all looks good for Xmas and boxing day, I failed to actually think about meals in-between now and Wednesday. Thankfully our area has Tesco whoosh which I heavily use.

We're going to CP the day after boxing day, it's partly a blessing as we're meeting family there rather than them staying with us and having to ready the house but on the other hand there is the dreaded packing.

I think you quoted the wrong person as have no idea what you are referring to?

@JC03745 I think @ResultsMayVary meant me (in response to my discovery that Burger King is open until 11pm on Christmas Day).

Sorry !

@IncessantNameChanger he was in his first year. He wasn't happy with his course or the living situation so withdrew and came home beginning of December. He was so excited to go but his experience wasn't what he expected. DS was diagnosed with autism when he was 10, he was initially diagnosed with specific language impairment aged 4. He's very pragmatic so I know he would have thought through his decision and it's not a knee jerk reaction, and at least he decided earlier rather than struggle.

I've still not wrapped any presents or done any cleaning. But it will get done it always does.

You do a time on your task, then have a short break, then back to task, then a slightly longer break. For example, 25 minutes task, 5 minutes break, 25 minutes task, 10 minutes break.

I find it so helpful in terms of focusing on something. I tend to do 15 or 20 minutes of task then a break, but you can choose the times that work for you.

I have an app called Pomofocus which does all the changes for me. However, I've just invested in a standalone timer to get me away from my phone a bit more.

Oh fuck.

My (lovely!) cousin is coming for Christmas. I offered for her to stay the night months ago but I thought she sounded as if she wasn't that keen and hasn't said anything about it since so I assumed she was going to go home.

But we just had a chat and apparently what she took from that conversation was that we'd arranged for her to stay!

I mean, it'll be lovely to have her stay and the DC will be really happy, but it means another zillion jobs to do, help!!

Did my last bits of shopping in town today and have spent the past 3 hours wrapping so another job ticked off. Ran out of time to go to the supermarket though so have the rest of my cheeseboard arriving via amazon fresh in the morning.
House looks like a tip but no chance of getting it sorted before I head to my parents tomorrow as I am working all day. Thankfully I have 1.5 days when I get back before anyone else will be in it.

My house is a tiiiiiiippppp!!!!!😩

I have really bad task paralysis after a weekend of eating out and watching Christmas films. Lots of cleaning needs done today (Christmas food is bought at least) and washing. So of course I'm sitting on MN in my pyjamas.

I'm going to start with a shower and take things from there!

Good morning my people! I'm autistic, so I can organise and get things done beautifully, but it takes a hell of a lot out of me. So I tend to save my organisational superhero powers for stuff I really care about- which is NOT Christmas 🙄. It doesn't help that I get involved in a solstice event which is amazing, but involves costume making, people, chaos, people, crowds, people, trying to navigate the offspring through the whole thing, people....😱 This happened on Saturday, it was fun and amazing, now I'm about ready to shut myself in a cupboard until March.

Luckily our Christmas is very very simple- just me and the DCs. So, presents bought, tree up, food shop done (and not at bloody 6.00am either 😆) No cards, no presents for anyone apart from DCs and my boyfriend, tomorrow is just going to be dedicated to housework and wrapping.

And then the cards start arriving. People keep knocking at the door giving us cards and thoughtful little gifts (just things like home made jam and cat treats). Each one is like a little dart of guilt "You're not going to reciprocate are you?! YOU ARE A BAD CHRISTMAS PERSON!!" I'm going out for lunch with a friend in a minute and I was really looking forward to it, and now I realise she's probably going to give me a card and maybe a little present, and I'm going to be like "NOOO!! I CANNOT RECIPROCATE!!"
I had a big birthday party earlier this year and it was the same- now I'm in social debt to the tune of about 30 thoughtfully chosen presents 😬. I wish there was an easy way to opt out of this, I really do....

I am also on MN stuck
I am cold and tired and pissed pff
And no inspiration for what to get DH and no mojo to go and get anything
Have done almost all the vouchers

In case it helps, Amazon are still delivering, and Argos and I think maybe M&S.

I just ordered books for DD from Amazon, which will come tomorrow. And a new duvet for our surprise guest, which Argos are delivering same-day.

ADHDer here. I am feeling far too organised, which invariably means I’ve forgotten to do 100 things 🤣🤣🤣

runs in

I finished my craft swap project, and also remembered I wanted to give another friend a present. Both have been posted today via Special Delivery Guaranteed which cost me nearly £20, and is most definitely an ADHD tax on me for not being together enough to sort it earlier.

But, I am delighted I actually did it somewhat on time for Christmas.

I haven't done the food shop yet and am currently sat in a shopping centre cafe after buying unnecessary stocking fillings and assorted tat for my DSs because I got into a panic that they don't have enough presents.

Trying to get up the nerve to venture to the supermarket but I DON'T WANT TO, there are people there.

runs out again

😁 You are definitely the overachieving Squirrel on the thread today somehow I've ended up in front of festive celebrity bakeoff. Aaarrgghh!

@SquirrelSoShiny I do love how similar our nicknames are. Squirrels unite!

I survived the supermarket, although I didn't get anything for our Christmas dinner so I'm going to have to go to a different one once DH picks me up. I did accidentally buy new plates, a tablecloth, a dressing gown for DS14 and other stuff. Have done very well at unnecessary shopping.

I also completely forgot to eat today and got a bit wobbly in the queue, so am now firmly sat on my bum, still in the supermarket, eating a protein bar. I'm type 2 diabetic and forgot my kit so suspect I have gone a bit lower than normal and am having false hypo. Protein bar will sort me out.

This is typical of me as all my functioning has gone towards Christmas today and none to consideration of my medical needs. 😂

DS2 (9) is awaiting an ASD assessment and solemnly said yesterday "I do know that it's you that puts the presents in our stockings and Santa doesn't exist Mum".

He's the youngest, so that's the end of the entire sorry charade in our house 🥳

I had lunch with my friend today. She didn't give me a card or a present.

I love her so so much 😆

We're the only ones on our street not to send cards to our neighbours, I'm starting to panic and might need to raid the loft for past years cards that were bought but never used in or sent out.

Stand firm and start a "No card" trend 💪

You can always do that delightfully pass-ag thing where you make an announcement on Facebook that you've decided not to send cards because it's bad for the environment and you're donating the money to orphaned lemurs instead.