How desperate am i ?

[donna1917]

Hi i have been suffereing with neck back and left wrm problems am totally shattered from trying to work and my medication and here i am stood with an ironing board up in front of me just so as i can wrap a couple of presents for family just because i am struggling to lean forward and reach out . Any body else feel silly ? X

[Hardey_Leone]

I'm sure you could ask other members to wrap these for you. They don't have to

wrap there own. No need to make things hard. Your body comes first.

[Hidden]

Agree with Hardey. Nowadays, if I do do it myself I buy a cotton tote for each family member, fill with presents and tie with a bow. Bit like a santa sack but they get a reusable shopping bag. No need to wrap everything individually then. Mind you, took me years to think of it ☺

[deejames]

We buy for kids and partners and then one present for family as a Secret Santa .One present to buy and one to wrap. I don't know how anyone can afford to buy for everyone. I also don't think it's necessary. Do we need all this ' stuff' . Birthdays are the time for presents.

We ve done Secret Santa for 5 years now and all agree its taken away the stress especially for my adult children who don't have much money. There is even an online application that will send a email to each person with the present recipient.

Dee

[Boozybird]

Hi Donna,

this is the downside of xmas! Still trying to be all things to everybody...not really the christmas message! I've got my boys arriving tomorrow (the rest arriving xmas eve) and they love being back in the comfy bosom of the mother love! ie.. expectations of how I used to be when they were young and so was I! Well, that's not happening anymore... its a team work message and for me I just have to work on my acceptance that those days are gone and if the place gets the hurricane look then so be it... I like the ironing board idea but I think the others are right... just delegate, kick back, start the sherry early. It's christmas for you too! xx

[Kelly-paino]

Hi Donna,

I fully understand how u feel n yes I have felt silly in the past for basically causing myself much more pain than necessary just to keep up with the same standards that I had once been able to maintain with regards to Christmas n all of the effort that comes with it.

I've had chronic pain for 8 years now n only in the last 4 (since completing a pain management programme) have I learned the art of pacing n planning in advance so as everything still gets done but at a pace that I can manage.

Reducing my work hours due to constant pain has meant that I can now organise myself better n am more likely to cope with everything.

I'm currently experiencing a really bad flare up of lower back pain n have just had to do the basics....agree with the gift bag ideas. I save the ones that people give to us at Christmas n reuse them for giving gifts to others the following year. much easier than wrapping.

Past caring what people think anymore. Those who truly know me have seen me through the bad times n are understanding enough to support me when I am struggling with increased pain.

If your meds allow just crack open something nice to drink, get out the gift bags n sod whatever u can't manage today.

Still time left to finish things off at your own pace

[donna1917]

Thank you all for your kind words its true we do just try and carry on being normal but pain puts a stop to that . I do hope you all have the best christmas you can all have xx