Gifts for the Whole ADHD Family

We just finished celebrating the twins’ birthdays this past weekend, and I’m now launching full Christmas panic mode. I’ve been flipping through the catalogues and flyers that are arriving in my mailbox daily. I’m hoping that all the bills in there feel intimidated by the size and weight of the catalogues and will finally stop harassing me. I’m looking at you hydro bill!

I’ve also been out shopping at the stores more than usual, and hearing my mother’s voice in my head… “You’re shopping for other people, Tara. Multitasking is the work of the devil!” I may have taken creative liberties with the last bit, but the sentiment was there. I’ve also been enhancing my social media addiction with hours spent compulsively hunting down ideas online. And promptly forgetting everything I ever looked at. There are a few things still in my head, but I’m pretty sure they are some kind of non-existent mashup of everything I have looked at…like a transformer…except completely useless as either a vehicle or a robot. I’m not going to tell you what they are because you’ll have me committed I don’t want you to steal the patent in case it is in fact brilliant.

In my state of overwhelm, I sat down with the first catalogue that arrived at my house this year. The Wow Guide from Canadian Tire.

I love the cover, and I agree that a KitchenAid Mixer would be the star of anyone’s tree this season. I’m putting a housekeeper on top of my tree. Maybe she can get the cobwebs on the ceiling while she’s up there. No one believes me anymore that they’re there as Halloween decorations.

I remember the first year I went out to buy my family Christmas presents on my own. I set out on the city bus for Canadian Tire, with my Kettle Creek purse slung over my shoulder. I don’t remember what I bought, but I do know that I didn’t fully think it through when I bought several heavy things that had to be dragged home from the bus stop. Although Santa arrives at the house somewhat more gracefully than I did that year, and his gifts don’t usually have road rash because he’s all spoiled with his fancy sled and obedient reindeer, I do know that my family appreciated the gifts I gave them even more than ones that were cobbled together by an remote sweatshop of freezing cold elves who know just a little too much about our personal information.

This year I am taking my jolly minivan over to Canadian Tire to get some great gifts for everyone on my list. Including me. I’m going to say Santa brought my new furniture. Be cool Santa, and I won’t let CSIS know that you’re keeping a database, making “lists,” flying without being retested after 80, and are a serial home intruder. Drop off that maid, and maybe a chef, and I’ll even testify on your behalf.

Here are some of the things I have added to my list on their handy-dandy app. Much better than leaving a list at home for nosy spies to read, and the app tells me if my local store has it in stock, and even what aisle to find it in. Which is awesome, because I would sooner light myself on fire than ask someone for help.

For the people with ADHD (so…all of us then)

These gifts are great for getting that extra energy out, keeping fit, and bringing calm to their chaotic world. My kids bounce all day long. Yoga is our next therapy strategy.

GoodLife Fitness Mini Trampoline

Gaiam Kids Yoga Kit

GoodLife Fitness Exercise Ball

We need all the help we can get to get organized every day. These things will help:

SmartStart Remote Car Starter

I cleaned out my garage in time for winter last year and it was heavenly. This year it is full again, and this morning there was frost on my windshield. We’re lucky if we get to school before the end of first period, so there’s no way I can be outside warming the van up ahead of schedule. Grace is the only one ever ready, and she walks because she has no patience for the rest of us. Since I’m pretty sure it’s frowned upon to have her start the car on her way to school, a remote starter may be the answer. Even better if I can do it from my phone. From the bathroom.

Tile Mate Bluetooth Tracker

I’m attaching these to my husband’s keys, wallet, and phone. And every water bottle we own. He’s probably going to put one inside my passport in case I make good on my daily mutterings about heading for the airport.

Autotrends Cable Clips

Anything that can reduce the daily agitation in our lives, and keep us from chasing squirrels as we hunt for a dropped cable, is a good thing. This is going into every stocking.

CANVAS Easton 2-Drawer Cabinet

I love this as an organized place for sunglasses, gloves, keys, etc for every member of the family to stop at on their way out the door. I may have to modify the top by lining it with alligators so it doesn’t become a dumping zone.

Mom and Dad (that’s us!)

Nerdguy and I often get a gift that we both want for the house for Christmas. These are some of the things I am telling him we want for the living room:

CANVAS Essex Armchair

LG Smart TV

CANVAS Quinn Floor Lamp

Surrey Electric Media Fireplace

Nerdguy (husband)

Yardworks Sleigh Scoop

This may be payback for when he got me a whipper-snipper for Mother’s Day. Happy shovelling honey!

Family Gifts

10-in-1 Games Table

Tech Toys

Nest Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat

Who can ever remember to change the thermostat to the right temperature at night? If this can help us sleep better, draw us out of bed to a warm house in the morning, and save us money on our heating bills, then it will be a Merry Christmas all year long. Plus Nerdguy loves a good home-control gadget. And I’ll do anything to keep him from making his own again.

Pioneer UFO Drone

There’s a screen on this so you can see live video of where the drone is traveling. As the girls start getting more independent and heading off with their friends, they should get used to hearing a buzzing sound following behind them. At the very least, we can send it around the rooms we are too afraid to enter to find all their lost stuff.

Autotrends 4-Port Charging Station

Because there are never enough outlets.

Star Wars BB-8 RC Droid

I would love this even more if it could pick up the dirty sock infestation around the main floor.

EVO Next Virtual Reality Headset

Reality sucks sometimes. Can I just spend hours walking around a clean house that no one is actively trying to destroy? I’d never take the goggles off.

 

Grandpa

Outbound Multi Tool Set with LED Lights

My dad is never without his multi-tool. It often comes in very handy, so I can see why he carries it everywhere. The good people at the courthouse didn’t quite see it the same way when he accidentally brought it to jury duty. I’ll get him an upgraded one with lights, that isn’t marked “Exhibit A.”

 

Nana

Sunbeam Heated Shawl

This may actually be for me to huddle under when we visit since it tends to be just a degree higher than a walk-in cooler in her house. Sometimes I’m tempted to ask if the cold temperature is in any way related to that creepy crawlspace under her house, and what exactly is she storing under there. But instead I bundle up, do a headcount, and wipe all our fingerprints on the way out the door.

 

Grandma

Bushnell Legend 10×42 Binoculars

My mother has a great view of the lake and the escarpment, as well as a walking path that’s always full of people. This will help her to see more when she is housebound after her surgery this winter. And maybe spare her from more misunderstandings with the police. It will be much easier to tell now that they are in fact folded-up golf umbrellas that the elderly couple are carrying, and not hunting rifles or bazookas. Common mistake. The police force may even chip in on the cost of these.

 

Maggie would totally love that doll, and she just told me she wants a Cinderella doll, so that’s going on my list for sure. And maybe some glass slippers for me. And by glass, I mean racoon. High heels should never be called slippers. Foot torture machines, yes. Slippers, no. Slippers are cute and fuzzy and everything good in this world.

What’s on your holiday shopping list?

Disclosure: I am receiving compensation for writing about the products that Canadian Tire has to offer. All of the products were chosen by me, and represent things I would buy or like to receive as a gift, but I have not tested any of the products.