What did I forget this time?
I always forget something, prompting at least 1 return to the house before I can go anywhere.
Does this happen to you? You leave your home to go somewhere and immediately remember that you forgot something. So you go back to your house, unlock the door and retrieve whatever it was that you forgot. Now you head back out, only to remember something else that you forgot. The problem here is that you may be halfway down the street. Do you turn around and go back to the house where you are greeted by the dog again, looking confused, wondering why you keep leaving her. Finally, you are ready to leave, praying that there is nothing else you forgot to take with you.
“Is this a Parkinson’s thing?”, Mr. Twitchy would ask. "Or is it just getting older?” Good question. Declining Executive Function (the skills that you use to manage everyday tasks) is a common symptom of PD. I used to be very organized, but not so much anymore. Multi-tasking - no problem. Today, doing two things at the same time makes me shake. I have noticed that it is getting harder to do a lot of things mentally that used to be so easy for me, like figuring out a tip in a restaurant. And of course there is always the most important question - where did I put my glasses, which are on top of my head the whole time I am running around the house looking for them.
I have left my phone at home….
I have thought about creating a checklist to post at the door, and maybe in my car, with the following:
Do I have my car keys? House keys?
Meds?
Phone? Wallet?
Are all of the doors closed and locked?
Is there anything else that I need for this trip out of the house?
I have left my phone at home, realizing it when I already on my way to my destination. Do I really need to go back and get it? If I don’t, I enjoy the break from technology until I get home. However, my drivers license is in my phone case along with a few credit cards. There is a copy of my license on my phone that I can always use…… oops, that doesn’t do me any good if I don’t have my phone with me. Ugh, maybe I do need to go back home and get it.
Do you have a better solution for this? If you do, please tell me what works for you. I know it is not a major problem - just an annoying one. And it drives Mr. Twitchy crazy.
First time attendees talk about their experience at the WPC
On Sunday, several of the Twitchy Women who attended the World Parkinson Congress in May talked about their experience at the Congress.
Have a great week!
This made me laugh. If you're new to this experience I'm happy for you. This is how I've lived my entire adult life. My ex-husband has ADHD. He fought this battle every day on his way out the door for work. A checklist definitely helped. Every day about 15 minutes before he was to leave the house I would run through the list, wallet, watch, keys, phone ect.
While traveling we always had to turn back at least once, returning to the house for those items that were outside the everyday list. This was more than a habit. It was a tradition. The joke was we did it to keep the neighbors guessing.
Now it is so ingrained into my routine double checking before I leave is like getting dressed and brushing my teeth. Having a designated place to hang keys is the best way to know where they are. While moving about it was always the first decision I made when settling in a new home. The same goes for the other essential items we can't leave home without.
I hope this helps.