Laura Guckian

For my family, Christmas does not always look or feel like the magical moment we see everywhere else. I am autistic and I have ADHD. All of my children are autistic and my eldest also has ADHD.

As a neurodivergent family; control, organisation and routine are essential. Over Christmas, those things often disappear and that makes everything harder.

On top of that, there is constant societal pressure to create the “perfect Christmas” – that is simply not possible, especially for families like ours.

If this resonates, here are some of the things that I do to make the Christmas holidays feel a little bit easier and more enjoyable for my family.

Here’s hoping it might help yours too.

1. Ditch the ‘shoulds’

One of the hardest parts of Christmas is trying to meet unrealistic expectations. We are told to create magical moments and deliver perfect experiences. For me, not just as someone who is neurodivergent but also as a mother, those expectations are impossible to meet and create huge pressure.

The first thing I do is ditch the ‘shoulds’ and remind myself that there is nothing I should be doing over Christmas. That helps reduce the pressure and gives me permission to do what works best for my family. There is no right or wrong way to celebrate Christmas. There is only the way that is right for you.

2. Create your own traditions

When I first became a mother, I........

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