How To Survive Parenting When You Are Sick

The arrival of lovely autumn is the season that keeps on giving, literally. No, I’m not talking about the leaves being on the ground. No, I’m not talking about the fact the television has suddenly got a whole lot better. Although, I feel I need to share my disappointment about the new Great British Bake Off. It started with real promise and now it has fizzled out, leaving me seriously disappointed. Instead I am talking about bugs and colds. This is season we all get ill. Youngest has been battling a cold and cough for weeks now. She gets rid of it and then a week later it’s back again. She is a walking snot bag and she has decided to share this delightful cold with me. She’s all heart. I have had this sodding cold for over three weeks now. 3 weeks!

That Time I nearly Ended Up In Hospital

This time last year I was hit by a cold and again this was thanks to Youngest. However, the flipping cold mutated. I ignored the cold. Ignored the fact that I had developed a serious aversion to sunlight, and just took to wearing sunglasses instead. I ignored the fact that my head was pounding and took more painkillers. I ignored the fact that I couldn’t eat anything that wasn’t ice-cream. I carried on. Then one morning I woke-up with a temperature that was hotter than the sun and I couldn’t keep water down. Mr C took one look at me and drove me to the doctors. I knew I must have looked ill because everyone in that waiting room shrank away from me. It could have been the fact I was sweating, mumbling incoherently, wearing sunglasses and clutching a sick bucket, which was actually my daughter’s crab bucket. Looking back, I can laugh at my own stupidity. It wasn’t funny though. I was nearly hospitalised because apparently I had influenza. The only reason I wasn’t admitted was because Mr C promised to work from home for the next week and feed me water on a teaspoon. This time I know that I need to listen to my body a bit more if I am to stop the same thing from happening. These are my tips for surviving parenting when you are sick.

Tip 1 - Don’t Feel Guilty

You are sick. That isn’t a sign of weakness, nor is it a sign that you are a rubbish mum. Embrace the sickness. Take to that settee and don’t move, unless it is to turn the television over.

Tip 2 - Leave The Washing

You are poorly and that means that the Everest mountain of washing that needs doing is the last thing you should be trying to conquer. Ignore it. No one will thank you for doing it.

Tip 3 - Keep The Children Alive

This week it’s just about keeping the children and yourself alive. Do not feel that you have to entertain them, you are not a Butlin’s Redcoat. This week they can watch a bit more television, it’s not going to kill them. They can eat a beige meal because it’s easier for you to cook. They can play with Nanny iPad because it means that you can vomit in peace. Don’t feel guilty about this. You are only doing this because you are poorly.

Tip 4 - Accept Help

You are not flipping Superwoman. If someone asks how you are doing then you do not repeat “I’m fine”. You are not fine. Accept help where you can. You don’t have to do it all by yourself.

Over To You

Do you have any tips for surviving parenting when you are poorly? On a side note, we parents are tough. We totally should be working for the Secret Service. I bet we are immune to all sorts of radiation, I mean we have raised toddlers, and toddlers are disgusting. The government needs to be hiring us to sort out the country. We are licensed to parent.