The first sound Danielle heard that morning was the wailing cry of her daughter, Susie. Next was her rambunctious three-year-old son, Dylan, as he ran around the house. He was screaming like a banshee.
As soon as she sat up in bed, she knew it was a mistake. Lifting her head, she felt queasy, as if she wanted suddenly to vomit straight into the porcelain basin.
“How do the kids have so much energy while I feel like a bus just hit me?”
Yet, she was a parent. She grabbed a cold and flu tablet from the bedside drawer. “No time to mess around, time to soldier on.
When you’re a parent, often there is so much focus on taking care of the kids when they’re sick. However, what do we do when we require the care?
Parenting is a Herculean effort and a job that doesn’t take sick days. Therefore, here’s how to care for your kids while you’re the one with the illness.
Take a stroll:
If you are a parent of multiple little ones, dealing with a pounding headache or flu in your day can be a nightmare. So, how about a stroll in double prams through the fresh air to clear your head?
As much as we like to believe that isolating ourselves and hiding away may be the best course of action when we’re ill, it’s not always possible. Moreover, a walk in nature can have its benefits.
Both you and the kids get some vitamin D. In addition, there is the possibility that light exercise may allow you to feel better faster and help to speed up the healing process in your system.
Maintain a good hygiene regime:
As many families know, once one person gets sick, it usually spreads like a bushfire throughout the household. This can’t be any truer than with kids. They can pick up communicable illnesses so easily.
While you’re ill, keep a good means of personal hygiene for yourself and throughout the family.
Make sure to cough and sneeze into the elbow and, if it occurs, have them do the same. It is also important to keep an eye on your utility maintenance to avoid infections.
The Camp Lejeune water lawsuit is one excellent example of how poor drinking water quality could contribute to the spread of diseases.
According to Alice Wright of Metro UK, if you have symptoms such as flu; “wash your hands regularly and get the jab.”
Learn to Self – Care:
As I stated in the intro, often parents become so focused on taking care of their child, they forget themselves. What is the rule on an aircraft? ‘Attend to yourself before helping others.’
If you have little ones, act as if they’re newborns – sleep when they sleep.
According to Rebecca Eanes “…Stress management and adequate sleep are the best ways to take care of myself so that I can best take care of my child,…”
For just like in any workplace, your physical wellbeing is important to how you perform the role, learn to let go of the guilt.
Keep hydrated:
Our bodies are three-quarters liquid. Water and other fluids help keep it healthy – even a 2% drop can cause a lack of concentration.
Now add looking after kids, and that can make you seem like a zombie. When the kids get sick, we tell them to keep hydrated. It is best to follow your own advice.
Sometimes, when you’re sick, water can be a challenge and may not be able to provide enough help. Dr Rachel Abrams of Food Revolution has some tips and remedies that are great for how to keep fluids up.
Now, I hope this sees you in a more speedy recovery, while you handle parenthood. Just remember to see your medical professional if you don’t see improvement. Get well soon.