What's the best way to deal with being sick and caring for 2 young children?

Question

I've felt like crap for a week, and caring for my kids is really starting to wear on me. Obviously there's no way to NOT take care of them...so, any ideas?

Answer 1

I have one word for you....DAYQUIL! It saves my life when I'm sick. I know how you feel too. I hate being sick, there's too much to do.

Try Nightquil at night, it'll help you sleep. You'll get better faster, if you're rested.

Answer 2

Oh Sweetie, my heart goes out to you. Been there, done that. I have raised 5 children virtually on my own and I know what you are going thru. All I can say is that a good husband is the best asset in the world for your situation. In lieu of that a really good girl friend is the next best thing, or a wonderful mom or a sister....you are getting my idea. This is a time when you reach out to the people you love and the ones that love you. Taking care of children is hard work and when you are sick it is nearly impossible. You need someone to take over so that you can get some rest and get better. Depending on how old they are of course you may be able to help them understand if you lie on the couch in your jammies and tell them "Mommy is sick"....they might be sweet and cut you some slack. Then again if they are just babies themselves that is too much to ask.
Good luck and I hope you come up with someone to help you. Sorry I don't know you, I would be glad to help! Take care honey.
Lady T~

Answer 3

My daughter is 22 months and I am 9 1/2 weeks right now. I have had some pretty bad morning sickness...well, all day sickness. I think more than anything you just sort of learn to deal. My husband is in the military and is gone right now so it's all on me all day and night. I learned to put a bucket or something up where should couldn't get it but where I could get it quickly if needed. My daughter also allows me to go to the bathroom alone, so when I felt I had time to get to the bathroom I could always run in there. Right now I am working on not letting her use me as her personal jungle gym and rare times that she throws a fit somewhere where I have to pick her put and carry her away I have learned to always hold her on my side because she is a kicker. I think as woman, especially pregnant woman we just adapt to our situations and do the best we can. If you are wanting #2 go for it. It will be nice when they are a little closer in age and can play together a little better than children who are further apart. My daughter will be almost 2 1/2 when #2 is born. Good luck!

Answer 4

The best answer might be having someone else take care of the kids a couple days. ;-) But it sounds like that might not be possible...why else would you raise the question, right?

You don't say the ages of the kids but....

For infants, it's tough to get free time. If you have a playpen or baby swing, you could get your arms free from holding him/her.

For 1 to 2 year olds, they may be kept occupied by a variety of toys on the floor. Of course, the room has to be kid-proof and they need supervised.

For 3 to 4 year olds, you might entice them to be "mommy's helper" by picking up toys, "dusting" low furniture, and anything that keeps them busy while you rest on the couch. Good kid movies might keep them in front of the TV for an hour or so.

For 5 to 6 year olds, you could try quiet games you could play with them from the couch. Example, simple card games, quiet board games (Shutes and Ladders is still a good game!). They too can "help mommy" if you make it into a game.

School age kids should like TV, video games, etc.

I'm really sorry you are ill. You sound very caring and concerned about your kids. I'm sure one of the reasons you are still ill is because you are afraid that meds could make you sleepy...and unable to supervise the kids well. I'm sorry there are not more answers. Take some solace that many moms have gone through this, having no help... And give yourself lots of kudos for doing your job well, even while feeling crappy. I wish you the best luck with the kids.

One other comment:: Forget about the housework! It'll still be there when you feel better!! Every kid has had a messy house from time to time. Best to concentrate on caring for the kids when you're ill, rather than cleaning.

Lifes

Answer 5

Get help from anyone you can, even if it's paid help.

Try family, neighbors or friends and if that doesn't work, enlist the assistance of a neighborhood teen you would use for babysitting while you're not at home. This way YOU can rest and recover while someone else cares for the children, but you're there for an emergency.

If that fails, do they attend daycare? Consider putting them in daycare for a week until you can recover and then you'd only have to deal with the nighttime routine.

There are agencies you could call to get someone in for a few days even if you have no teens you normally call on... or just call a friend and say "Who do you use for childcare?" because it's the holiday and most students are out of school.

College students will be out of school until the middle of January, so they're a good bet too :)

Good luck to you! I was a single mom of seven, one with special needs, so I just wasn't allowed to get sick - lol

Answer 6

You have my sympathy, I know it's awful having to care for your kids when you don't feel well yourself.

If you have a partner, good friend or relative see if they'll take the kids somewhere for a couple of hours so you can take a nap and just get a little time to regroup. Trust me, that will help immensely!

If your children are old enough, enlist their help to get them to play quietly, bring you things, pick up etc...

Otherwise just hang in there, take Advil, and remember that this too shall pass! As you said, there's no way to not care for them, but it really won't hurt them to just get the basics for a few days.

Answer 7

Find some way to do something nice for yourself even though your kids are in the house. Write a letter, read a chapter out of a book, take a peek at a favorite t.v. show. Eat something you want to eat.

Good luck to you, dear. You have the most difficult (yet rewarding) job in the world being a mom.

Answer 8

I have had to go it alone while my spouse has been deployed numerous times. I have been sick some of those times. Just keep a healthy diet and keep your hands and the kids hands clean. Dirty hands are the number one source of spreading germs. Let the house go if you don't have the energy to clean. It will be fine until you are feeling up to cleaning. Last get as much rest as you can while the kids nap in their room. I hope this helps and you have a speedy recovery.

Answer 9

WHEN I HAD THE FLU FOR 1 WEEK AND MY 10 YEAR OLD
NEED TO BE FED. I WOULD FORCE MY SELF TO MAKE
HER SOMETHING QUICK AND EASY, THAT RIGHT THERE
WAS FOR DINNER. FOR LUNCH I WOULD JUST HAVE HER
MAKE HERSELF A CUP OF NOODLES OR A SANDWICH. THE
SAME GOES FOR LUNCH. I WOULD NOT LET HER GO OUT
SIDE BECAUSE I COULD NOT KEEP AN EYE ON HER. SHE
WAS BORED BUT I TRIED TO MAKE IT UP TO HER WHEN I
FELT BETTER. AS FOR YOU I DON'T KNOW HOW YOUNG
YOUR CHILDREN ARE BUT I WOULD JUST MAKE SOME QUICK AND SIMPLE JUST AS LONG AS THEY ARE GOING TO LIKE WHAT THEY EAT, WITH A TREAT. AND LOTS OF MOVIES SO THEY CAN BE ENTERTAINED. DO THE CAT NAPS IT WORKS, UNTIL THEY TAKE THEIR OWN NAPS
EVERYBODY CAN TAKE A NAP TOGETHER. JUST TRY NOT
TO TAKE YOUR MEDICATION THAT WILL MAKE YOU
DROWSY. THIS WAY YOU CAN BE A LIGHT SLEEPER.

Answer 10

Make a speedy recovery before your kids catch the virus - Good luck!