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Neurodiverse Mumsnetters

Use this forum to discuss neurodiverse parenting.

I gave up the school run and I feel Amazing but MIL thinks I’m lazy

585 replies

Feelsomuchbetter · 18/12/2024 11:25

I have ASD and ADHD . I struggle a lot. The school run has been hell for me. Dh drives past the school on his way to work so 3 months ago I asked him to please take the dc instead of me doing it. He was previously leaving 10 mins before we had to now he drops dc at breakfast club a bit earlier.

I feel SO much better. I’ve been able to wean myself off AD and I’m not mentally ruined by 9 am . MIL has been saying it’s not fair on dh !!!! That he should have a calm drive to work not stopping off at all ?? Dh is fine to do it he doesn’t mind, hasn’t complained .

OP posts:
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MildredSauce · 18/12/2024 20:16

Feelsomuchbetter · 18/12/2024 20:14

It’s something we have talked about and we have agreed that when I feel ready it might be a positive step as if dh is with me and I feel overwhelmed it will be more manageable. I do want to take them / pick them up occasionally and it’s something I will consider trying again

That sounds positive. What if DH was ill or injured. You need a plan b for getting the kids to school.

Uyay · 18/12/2024 20:16

Sorry that the pile on is still happening after the thread move op. As your husband has no problem with it just ignore mil, taking a step back from things so you don’t completely fall apart is a fine thing to do, I’ve done it many times before (also have asd) you have a plan for a possible entry point into work

rightinthedavinamccalls · 18/12/2024 20:18

Sunshine1500 · 18/12/2024 15:44

Yes I agree, if it works for them that’s great. However when one person is doing the majority of the parenting while working it may be unfair and will raise questions or concerns.

Doing the school run is not doing "the majority of parenting". It's nowhere near it.

Abcdefghijklmh · 18/12/2024 20:19

Nothing to do with MIL! If DH is happy and you are then that’s great. When my DH had some gardening leave he did the drop offs and picks up all the time and loved it. I have in total 22 years of it 😂 so it was a welcome break. I get overwhelmed by supermarkets - but DH is wonderful and bops around like a ninja, so he’ll be bracing the shops for Christmas - other times I do online shopping. Play to your strengths I say!

EdithBond · 18/12/2024 20:21

Feelsomuchbetter · 18/12/2024 20:11

we haven’t spoken to MIL since this happened and dh has told her she needs to apologise, that she’s entitled to her opinion but given she knows the struggles I’ve had the lazy comment was uncalled for and he told her not to contact us unless it’s to apologise

Your DH is really supportive, thank goodness. I hope your MIL shows she’s apologetic not just by apologising for voicing her unsolicited, unempathetic and ill-informed opinions but by choosing to learn about your disability.

Rowen32 · 18/12/2024 20:23

Feelsomuchbetter · 18/12/2024 12:24

I got obsessed with preparing for the morning so put a lot of pressure on myself , wrote lists got 5 sets of everything, labelled drawers etc but still felt stressed. I have a fear of being late so I was getting up early to get myself totally ready and just had a sense of panic ?

The actual walk itself is 20 mins and it’s busy and noisy and I felt very stressed. The school is so busy too and crowded I really felt like it was too much . I’d not be able to manage to eat beforehand due to anxiety but then would feel hungry and nauseous .

Id get home and feel exhausted. It was the same with pick up it was just like I was planning my day round drop off and pick up? I wasn’t sleeping well due to it. Now I feel fine each morning and can help to get the dc ready and have none of the stress so I feel a lot better.

Thank you, that's so helpful. I find I'm on a clock from beginning to end and can't relax even when I do it successfully and am not late etc..it's like a sensory overwhelm, I'm glad you're now free of it!

Stressedout150 · 18/12/2024 20:24

Feelsomuchbetter · 18/12/2024 20:00

Yes she said she was shocked at my lack of resilience and that personally she finds it lazy, that I should pull my socks up and get on with things

To be fair she’s right

BellaCriesAndThatsAlright · 18/12/2024 20:26

Stressedout150 · 18/12/2024 20:24

To be fair she’s right

No, she's actually rude and ignorant

SwordToFlamethrower · 18/12/2024 20:27

Who gives a shit what she thinks?! Tell her to go all the way to the top of fuck off mountain and jump off it

thatdidnothappen · 18/12/2024 20:27

Sickness and in health doesn’t really apply here.

If you are married to someone and they become unwell, whether temporarily or permanently, that’s obviously going to change your and their life, depending on the illness it could be significantly and permanently. That’s certainly not a reason for leaving someone.

However, illness (which being ND isn’t, but anyway) isn’t a reason for not doing things you can actually do.

I have a bad back. Doesn’t sound like much. It is, believe me. I’ve spent days in pain, suffering, sometimes silently, sometimes not. However, I get on and I do things.

Part of that is because I’ve no choice in the matter but it’s more than that. If I give in - if I stay in bed because it’s just too painful, then that’s when the decline kicks in and I end up sinking. Anyone who has had an elderly relative go into a home knows how this happen - they retain some independence at home and they force themselves to do some things, go to a home, that’s taken away from them, three months time they are bed bound.

That’s not good for anyone.

It isn’t good for the DH. What do we always say on here, that resentment builds up.

It isn’t good for the children, I don’t care what people say, it isn’t optimal to have one parent detach to this extent.

It isn’t good for the OP. She’s in a vulnerable position, and she is isolating herself further.

Runninggirls26 · 18/12/2024 20:27

Deja321 · 18/12/2024 20:12

Acrually my son is autistic and I work with autistic people and have done for nearly 20 years. Op had children so has a responsibility to them and school drop off is the bare minimum. He has to leave early and children have a very long day. I hated the school run but sometimes we have to do things we don't enjoy.

Then this makes your comment even worse!

Deja321 · 18/12/2024 20:28

wigsonthegreenandhatsforthelifting · 18/12/2024 20:13

Did you miss the part where the OP said that she is feeling so much better that she was able to come off ADs??

I'm sure she is, she gets to do only what she wants. But what about how everyoneelse feels?

EdithBond · 18/12/2024 20:28

Deja321 · 18/12/2024 20:12

Acrually my son is autistic and I work with autistic people and have done for nearly 20 years. Op had children so has a responsibility to them and school drop off is the bare minimum. He has to leave early and children have a very long day. I hated the school run but sometimes we have to do things we don't enjoy.

So, why do you appear to lack understanding and empathy for people with autism?

Do you think people with other disabilities shouldn’t have children if they need support with certain aspects of childcare?

thatdidnothappen · 18/12/2024 20:29

This reply has been deleted

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camerasupply · 18/12/2024 20:31

thatdidnothappen · 18/12/2024 20:27

Sickness and in health doesn’t really apply here.

If you are married to someone and they become unwell, whether temporarily or permanently, that’s obviously going to change your and their life, depending on the illness it could be significantly and permanently. That’s certainly not a reason for leaving someone.

However, illness (which being ND isn’t, but anyway) isn’t a reason for not doing things you can actually do.

I have a bad back. Doesn’t sound like much. It is, believe me. I’ve spent days in pain, suffering, sometimes silently, sometimes not. However, I get on and I do things.

Part of that is because I’ve no choice in the matter but it’s more than that. If I give in - if I stay in bed because it’s just too painful, then that’s when the decline kicks in and I end up sinking. Anyone who has had an elderly relative go into a home knows how this happen - they retain some independence at home and they force themselves to do some things, go to a home, that’s taken away from them, three months time they are bed bound.

That’s not good for anyone.

It isn’t good for the DH. What do we always say on here, that resentment builds up.

It isn’t good for the children, I don’t care what people say, it isn’t optimal to have one parent detach to this extent.

It isn’t good for the OP. She’s in a vulnerable position, and she is isolating herself further.

With all due respect, you don't seem to know anything about neurodivergence if this is the advice you're giving the OP

YellowGuido · 18/12/2024 20:31

I’m more aghast that your husband drives past the school every and day and hasn’t been doing the school run before now! Surely that’s just common sense??

WildfirePonie · 18/12/2024 20:32

Have you considered doing drop-offs and pick-ups about 5 minutes before the gates close? It tends to be much quieter during those times, at least at my DC primary school. If your DC are old enough you could give them permission to wait for you at the main entrance or the main gates.

AmberHiker · 18/12/2024 20:33

Unless you have adhd or autism or both you cannot understand the overwhelming anxiety it makes mums on the school run feel. I am both and struggle a lot my husband drops our child 4 mornings a week and I drop off one I usually can’t even walk him all the way to the door I will enter the playground and watch and wait pick ups I use after school club so I don’t have to mix with the large crowds at normal home times . I don’t feel guilty maybe embarrassed sometimes because I just can’t move past the anxiety of it but when he goes to year 6 I will take him and be able to stay in the car same with high school it’s not that we don’t want too it’s because we literally can’t

Good for you op.

nutella8 · 18/12/2024 20:34

I'd side with MIL on this one...

ItOnlyTakesTwoMinutes · 18/12/2024 20:35

camerasupply · 18/12/2024 20:31

With all due respect, you don't seem to know anything about neurodivergence if this is the advice you're giving the OP

I know a lot about neurodivergence and it seems fair to me.

EdithBond · 18/12/2024 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Would you say that to someone who uses a wheelchair or is partially sighted?

That they behave as though the world revolves around them because they struggle to drop off and pick up their kids from school safely and healthily and it exacerbates their disability.

MrsTerryPratchett · 18/12/2024 20:36

YellowGuido · 18/12/2024 20:31

I’m more aghast that your husband drives past the school every and day and hasn’t been doing the school run before now! Surely that’s just common sense??

Because he doesn't drive past at school time. They are in breakfast club to enable him to drop them. Which is added time for the DC and added expense for the family.

ForGreyKoala · 18/12/2024 20:36

georgepigg · 18/12/2024 13:40

Why would he be knackered? He’s dropping them off on the way to work and picking them up on the way home so would be out anyway. Then popping out on WFH days. If it’s such a small minor thing that OP should be doing it, why would it be exhausting for the husband?

Because he is also working, and possibly doing other things OP can't deal with.

thatdidnothappen · 18/12/2024 20:37

EdithBond · 18/12/2024 20:35

Would you say that to someone who uses a wheelchair or is partially sighted?

That they behave as though the world revolves around them because they struggle to drop off and pick up their kids from school safely and healthily and it exacerbates their disability.

Yes, I would.

If they could walk, but refused to, because it was painful and difficult. I am not unsympathetic to that but I won’t pretend I think it’s the best way forward.

It is behaving as if the world revolves around you by essentially having the rest of the family adapt for it; I can’t see how anyone could argue differently.

Mickey79 · 18/12/2024 20:39

YellowGuido · 18/12/2024 20:31

I’m more aghast that your husband drives past the school every and day and hasn’t been doing the school run before now! Surely that’s just common sense??

I may have misunderstood but I think that’s not really the case. Dh goes to work earlier than the normal school start time , so he wasn’t just driving past anyway to drop them off. They’ve had to start using breakfast and after school club so he can do the school run. Dh also has wfh days where he wouldn’t be driving past school at all.