Aussie mum reveals heartbreaking act in Woolworths car park: 'Overdrive'

When it comes to Christmas, I’m no Grinch or Scrooge. I embrace my inner Mariah and relish the festive season for all it is. Okay, that’s not exactly the truth. I do love Christmas, but I’m also a mum, and the reality is, there’s a long list of tasks to complete, one I’d argue rivals Mr Claus (and then some.)

Because let’s be honest, in a high percentage of households, it's typically Mrs Claus, aka the mums, who are planning and buying the presents, wrapping them, and popping them under the tree. It’s more often than not Mum who is cooking Christmas meals, treats, desserts, and everything in between, it is Mum who is arranging guest lists and Santa photos, scheduling the 500 additional parties and events that December brings and possibly the most frustrating of all, it’s the mums moving that bloody Elf on the Shelf every night.

Of course, all of this ‘stuff’ takes its toll, and new research from Donut King reveals just how much. A whopping 92% of Aussie mums are feeling ‘mentally overloaded’ with the seasonal pressure of the expanded to-do list over the festive period, with several women telling Yahoo Lifestyle the lengths they have gone to just to get some respite, such as going into hiding.

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The survey found that this is a more common move than you'd think, with 39% of women saying they hide out in the garage or outside the house to enjoy some peace and quiet and another 25% drive the long way home from work to soak up some "me time".

And no wonder with the research also exposing that, on top of their usual day jobs and responsibilities, they’re spending almost an entire week (155 hours to be exact) planning and prepping for Christmas to make things merry and bright for the whole family.

Mum's 'full-blown breakdown' due to holiday season stress

Full-time teacher and mum of two Jade Davis says that the increased mental load of the festive season (which she also says involves the elf - this elf had a lot to answer for) has caused her to have a “full-blown breakdown at work.”

“I’ve also lost my car in the Woolies carpark, and when I arrived home my hair was annoying me, so I decided to cut it…needless to say it needed to be fixed up afterwards,” she tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

To combat what Davis calls her state of “permanent overdrive” and find some deserved alone time, she has resorted to getting "creative".

“I order Woolies click and collect online on a Saturday night then on the Sunday I tell the family I am going to do the groceries for a big shop as no one wants to come when it is a big shop,” she says.

“I then go to the café next door to Woolies that serves wine, I have a cheeky vino or two, collect my online order and go home to do the laundry while hubby unpacks the groceries.”

The other thing Davis does to catch a break is "organise" Christmas presents.

“I then hide in my bedroom with the door locked," she explains. "I sit there with some wrapping paper, and when the kids come to check on me, I scrunch the paper up and tell them I am still wrapping presents, they get excited, thinking it’s for them, and give me another 10 minutes of peace and quiet."

Mum's 'sneaky escape' for Christmas relief

Donna Flatman, a single, working mum of nine-year-old Aria, says the responsibility and tasks associated with Christmas fall solely on her.

“When Christmas rolls around, the to-do list grows exponentially," she tells us. "Suddenly, I’m the chef, the decorator, the gift wrapper, the event planner, and the memory-maker all at once."

She continues, “I’m hunting down the perfect presents and setting up fun surprises like Elf on the Shelf for my daughter, which feels more like an Olympic sport some nights. While I do love the festive season, it does mean wearing even more hats than usual.”

Like Davis, Flatman has also decided to make some adjustments to her routine this year to catch a breather - including locking herself in the laundry.

“I’ve become a master of sneaky escapes," she says. "One of my go-to stress relievers is taking the dog for a quick walk around the block. Even just 15 minutes of fresh air can clear my head and help me reset.

“But my real secret weapon? The laundry room. I’ll tell my daughter I need to “get on top of the washing,” and then I’ll sneak in some much-needed me-time. Whether it’s scrolling TikTok, binge-watching a Netflix episode, or just sitting in blissful silence, those stolen 30 minutes feel like a little vacation.”

'Small price to pay'

While overwhelmingly, both Davis and Flatman say the alone time has served them well, there have been times when it has backfired.

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“One time, while I thought Aria was quietly colouring, she decided to turn the dog into a Christmas reindeer—complete with ribbons, stickers, and a very unimpressed expression on his face," Flatman recalls.

"Still, it’s a small price to pay for a bit of sanity, and honestly, her little creative 'disasters' often end up making the best memories.”