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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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Feelsomuchbetter · 18/12/2024 15:22

Waterweight · 18/12/2024 15:21

Also to add "weaning yourself of anti depressants" is a major red flag

You should be speaking with a doctor about dosages & brands if your unable to look after your kids for more then 2 days & 5+ nights a week

One of the biggest problems with getting people to stay on meds is them thinking there "cured" followed by thinking their "not working"

So I would worry about that a lot with young kids as your not better at coping with them your actually spending less time with them & happier occasionally because your removing your self from their main care giving needs

Sorry I should have been clearer this is under the supervision of MH professionals.

to add they had never helped me in 3 years of being on them as the cause of my ‘depression’ (or overwhelm) was situational and due to other conditions so that was what needed to change I couldn’t medicate myself to cope so I had to make actual changes to alleviate the symptoms.

OP posts:
Essentialblindspots · 18/12/2024 15:23

I can’t believe what I am reading on here sometimes! So many NT people judging from their own experience, with no knowledge of what it is like to have an invisible disability. Would they judge the same way if someone had a physical disability?

The very essence of autism is the “auto” bit. In other words, it’s internal within the person, and in the case of many women and some men, very much hidden.

No one can hope to know or understand how debilitating it is unless you have it, or have a child or sibling with it.

Imagine the sensory onslaught of standing under a massive waterfall in full flow for half an hour every morning and every afternoon. Imagine the frightening overwhelming noise, the power of it, your skin being pummelled by the water, the shock of the cold, not being able to catch your breath, not being able to communicate, the unsteadiness and potential loss of balance.

And all the time the weight of the responsibility looking after dc in that environment and the stress over keeping them safe.

That gives you some idea of how some autistic adults will feel walking in to a primary school environment twice a day. It would inevitably be very debilitating over a long period of time.

The balance of tasks between you and your dh is your business alone op. If you are doing everything you can in the home to make up for what you can’t do outside it, that’s playing to your strengths. Very sensible.

And I strongly disagree that your dh shouldn’t be doing at least half anyway. Just because you are a sahm shouldn’t make any difference to that, especially if he is driving past anyway!

Many autistic people get to the same point in life that NT people do. It’s just they sometimes have to take longer, or do it in their own way. In some areas they may exceed the capabilities of their NT peers. You are making great strides in life op and if I was your mil I’d be proud of you.

Does your mil have any knowledge about autism op? Maybe it’s time to enlighten her a bit? Or maybe that’s your dh’s task?

SereneFish · 18/12/2024 15:24

LlynTegid · 18/12/2024 14:40

One less car on the roads in the morning. Wish it was more but one step at a time.

Well no, as OP used to walk the school run and now her husband drives it.

User54614664 · 18/12/2024 15:25

Sunshine1500 · 18/12/2024 14:42

I suppose she she’s that your husband is dropping kids at school then going to do a full day of work, picking up kids again, while you have all day to yourself.

Of course a MIL is going to side with her son. Hypothetically, if one of your children were in the same situation, you may raise an eyebrow if they ended up doing the school runs plus work while their partner stays home all day. The only potential issue is how the husband truly feels about all this. If a woman started a reverse thread with the exact same situation (her being the one doing the school run and full time work) then the answers would be probably be very predictable.

comewhinewith · 18/12/2024 15:30

I think your arrangement is fine. If he's passing school on the way it's daft not to. Hope you're able to continue to improve.

UnreadyEthel · 18/12/2024 15:31

Feelsomuchbetter · 18/12/2024 12:14

I don’t work as had to give up 3 years ago . I have 2 volunteer roles though which I do. One is every Thursday at the food bank and the other is in a hospital 2-3 times a week. At some point I do want to work again but currently I’m not feeling ready.

I don’t think whether you work or not is at all relevant. It absolutely makes sense that the parent that is already driving in the direction of the school should do the school run. Your MIL should mind her own business.

Thingymajigii · 18/12/2024 15:31

Sorry I struggle with the acronyms on here. I am glad you are feeling better. I have ADHD so I can relate to how draining the school run is. I can't wait until they can walk themselves (we live close to the school).

thatdidnothappen · 18/12/2024 15:34

UnreadyEthel · 18/12/2024 15:31

I don’t think whether you work or not is at all relevant. It absolutely makes sense that the parent that is already driving in the direction of the school should do the school run. Your MIL should mind her own business.

This assumes the school run is like putting a letter through a postbox or something though: it isn’t, and it must add quite a bit to his journey.

Thats fine if he’s happy to do it, but let’s not pretend it’s a minor pause in an already necessary journey.

FestiveFruitloop · 18/12/2024 15:38

BlackStrayCat · 18/12/2024 15:08

Well, you would be foolish not to.

Are you ND yourself? Just curious.

BellaCriesAndThatsAlright · 18/12/2024 15:39

There are some depressingly ableist comments on here.

FestiveFruitloop · 18/12/2024 15:42

BellaCriesAndThatsAlright · 18/12/2024 15:39

There are some depressingly ableist comments on here.

Aren't there just. It's not the only thread like this in recent weeks, either.

OriginalUsername2 · 18/12/2024 15:43

I did the exact same thing! Didn’t know I had adhd at the time but the relief was immense.

Ignore mil. If DP is happy with it, your family, your choices!

Sunshine1500 · 18/12/2024 15:44

User54614664 · 18/12/2024 15:25

Of course a MIL is going to side with her son. Hypothetically, if one of your children were in the same situation, you may raise an eyebrow if they ended up doing the school runs plus work while their partner stays home all day. The only potential issue is how the husband truly feels about all this. If a woman started a reverse thread with the exact same situation (her being the one doing the school run and full time work) then the answers would be probably be very predictable.

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.

LinnettdeBelleforte · 18/12/2024 15:45

SneakyLilNameChange · 18/12/2024 11:29

If you and DH are happy then ignore her. Do you work? The only thing I can think is if you don’t work she perhaps thinks it’s unfair your DH works and does the school run etc etc but ultimately if that works for you guys then it doesn’t matter either way.

Still not any of her business.

UnreadyEthel · 18/12/2024 15:45

thatdidnothappen · 18/12/2024 15:34

This assumes the school run is like putting a letter through a postbox or something though: it isn’t, and it must add quite a bit to his journey.

Thats fine if he’s happy to do it, but let’s not pretend it’s a minor pause in an already necessary journey.

I’m not pretending anything. In the OP she says he’s going past the school on the way to work.

Feelsomuchbetter · 18/12/2024 15:47

UnreadyEthel · 18/12/2024 15:45

I’m not pretending anything. In the OP she says he’s going past the school on the way to work.

It’s also easier for dh as it’s quieter at that point (730am) so he can literally park right by the school and drop off quickly then carry on to work. If he dropped them even at normal time it’s impossible for him to park. On the days he collects at 320 he walks

OP posts:
LinnettdeBelleforte · 18/12/2024 15:47

Jibberjabba · 18/12/2024 15:08

It’s wonderful to have the support of your DH and I hope you can work towards feeling better. From an outsider standpoint I can see why your MIL might judge, it’s not helpful that you are aware of how she feels as will have an impact on your relationship. Can you have an heart to heart with her. Hopefully this arrangement is a short term solution, building to you doing more drop offs and pick ups? I think it can be easy to forget about the parent who is taking on more and my worry is if he becomes ill, stressed, changes jobs etc.

Why should she have a 'heart to heart' with her MIL? MIL needs to butt out. Unless a parent genuinely thinks that their child is being abused, then they need to keep their opinions to themselves. This is how MILs get a bad reputation.

sallyminibini · 18/12/2024 15:49

I also do this, as DH work is 5 mins from kids school and they do 20 mins of breakfast club three times a week.
But I do wfh pt longer days, so doing the school run in the morning means I am frazzled starting work and then have to work into the eve.
I have also received criticism for it, despite doing the school run on my days off and they have shut a major road so it takes about an hour to get there park up and then get home.
Regardless of working, I also fucking hate it and it stresses me out so you do what is best for you if kids and DH are ok with it.

OriginalUsername2 · 18/12/2024 15:51

Feelsomuchbetter · 18/12/2024 11:26

To add - they go to after school club 2 days a week as well as dh works later those days and the other 3 he works from home so can pick up at normal time . It’s literally stopped me from having a breakdown so I’m quite hurt MIL thinks I’m lazy

People that don’t have adhd or autism will never understand. It’s unexplainable to a NT person. You have to be confident - you know your character, you know your diagnoses, you know your reasons and daily life.

BlackStrayCat · 18/12/2024 15:51

FestiveFruitloop · 18/12/2024 15:38

Are you ND yourself? Just curious.

No.

Sunshine1500 · 18/12/2024 15:52

do the kids not mind being dropped so early, what time does the school start?

puzzlemath · 18/12/2024 15:53

I think the only thing to be aware of and look out for is that people with robust mental health might be affected by things and just not show it, because they deal with things well. That even though they deal with things well, anything which puts a strain on them may have an effect, which just might not be showing as visibly as it might with someone who does not have robust mental health.

Children are notoriously good at pretending everything is fine when it isn't, and also not showing the strain they felt until years later.

But this isn't necessarily the case. I am pointing it out so that you can be sensitive to small signs. It might well be that your dh is fine and the kids are fine.

Might be worth having another chat with MIL to probe her thinking.

DemonicCaveMaggot · 18/12/2024 15:54

Autistic burnout can take months to recover from and can trigger all kinds of mental and physical health problems. YANBU to prioritise your health. Forcing yourself back into an environment you find stressful and rushing back into full time work will just set you back to the beginning.

thepariscrimefiles · 18/12/2024 15:58

deluxe · 18/12/2024 13:45

If you don't work at all, then yes I think it's extremely lazy not to take your kids to school. That is just part and parcel of raising kids. I'm just about to finish doing the school run after 17 yrs and I know how tiresome it can be, but really, routines are an important part of life. I could never be asleep in bed while my working husband did all the getting kids ready and getting off to work himself.

OP still gets up early and gets the children ready for school. OP has explained that her ADHD and ASD makes the school run really difficult for her. It doesn't mean that she is lazy.

UnreadyEthel · 18/12/2024 15:59

Feelsomuchbetter · 18/12/2024 15:47

It’s also easier for dh as it’s quieter at that point (730am) so he can literally park right by the school and drop off quickly then carry on to work. If he dropped them even at normal time it’s impossible for him to park. On the days he collects at 320 he walks

Makes total sense to me. DH and I always arrange the school run around who is going to work. There’s no point in you making an extra journey if he’s going that way anyway. I wouldn’t engage with MIL on this.

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