Not long ago, I was in the hospital for complications due to ulcerative colitis and a really bad c-diff infection. I was admitted for seven days and my husband had to take over all the household duties while I was away. We have 3 children under the age of six and a dog so this was not easy for anyone. After the seven days, I decided to try and continue healing at home so my husband could get back to work. Believe me when I tell you that this was probably one of the most hardest things I have ever had to do in my life. Everyone needed something from me and I was in no shape to give it. I had the shits, a fever, low energy, the list goes on and on. In this post, you will learn some tips and tricks to managing the homefront whether you are suffering from an autoimmune disease or a regular sickness such as a fever or cold.
1. Do the bare minimum
You need to forget about the dishes and invest in paper plates and cups for the time being. The goal is to do as little as possible. Forget about the laundry, don’t worry about cleaning bathrooms- none of that. Your house will get messy but I promise you it’s okay. Soon you will feel better and you will be able to catch up with everything that you had let slide. The more you rest, the quicker you will heal. The only thing you need to do is make sure your babies stay fed and alive.
2. Ask for help
This one is a very hard one for me. I do not like asking for help…EVER. First of all, I don’t like to feel like I may be inconveniencing someone else and second, I can be a control freak. I want things done a certain way and I can’t always trust someone to do it my way. I have had to learn that when I really need help, it is important to ask and keep my expectations in check. When I was really sick I had to bite the bullet and ask my mom to come and help me. It was the best thing I ever did. I forced myself to let go of the reins and trusted her to take wheel. I had no other choice! Guess what! My kids are fine and alive and I am not sick anymore. Not to mention, they had a lot of fun hanging out with grandma.
3. Teach empathy
You know what? It is OK for our children to see us in a vulnerable state. We are human and moms and dads get sick too. As your children get older, you may be surprised with the kindness and empathy they show when they see you are suffering. My 6 year old loves to play mom when I am under the weather and I allow her to play these roles, in fact I capitalize on it. I let her know what a sweet girl she was to mommy. They will carry this into adulthood and be wonderful caretakers to their children one day.
4. Try to keep your germs to yourself
There is nothing worse than caring for a sick child while you are sick yourself. This happens though, and it is not easy to keep germs to yourself when you share your household with little ones. My suggestions are to wash your hands frequently and keep lotion handy so you don’t dry out your skin. Avoid close contact and sharing cups. This is hard, but no kisses! It’s totally fine to breastfeed and you should because you build your baby’s immunity that way. It is always a good idea to double check with a doctor but I always breastfed my little ones when I was sick. If you keep everyone else healthy, you should be better in no time.
5. No need to be the perfect parent
Perhaps you french braid your daughter’s hair after a bath or limit screen time to one hour? Maybe you take your kids to the park after school or take a nice walk? I’m sure you have these amazing routines that make you the wonderful parent that you are BUT you need to forget about all of that! Not for forever, just while you are sick. Allow the tv to be on non stop, allow their hair to be a mess, skip the walks, etc. Remember, your number one priority is being rested and getting well.
6. Avoid getting sick
You need to try everything you can to keep your immune system strong. This can be hard for someone suffering from an autoimmune disease but doing something is better than doing nothing. There are so many different vitamins and natural supplements out there that are worth trying. Try looking up elderberry, vitamin C, zinc, probiotics, vitamin B and so much more! Drink lemon water with honey in the morning, it does wonders for your body. I can give you a bunch of tips for parenting when you are sick but I am sure we can all agree that no matter what, it sucks! So wash your hands, get good sleep and keep your body strong. Remember, parenting is one of the hardest jobs there is but you will make it through and you are doing great!