When Mom is Sick, What Now?

 

Being a mom, and a homeschooling mom, it can be pretty tough when our kiddos are sick. But, what about when you're the one who's sick? I was "privileged" these past couple of days to receive the "gift" of my son's winter cold being passed on to me. It's a good thing I love that boy! Having Multiple Sclerosis and being a Type II Diabetic, whatever I catch usually comes on worse and lasts a lot longer than normal.

With a fever raging, my middle son recovering, and my youngest deciding to join the coughing fun, it was looking pretty rough. I found myself looking in distress at my freshly fixed up, first week of the year planner spread. Pick up the house. School. Declutter the dining room. Menu plan. As my brain told me to get the list started, my increasing chills fought to put me to bed. "This Mom doesn't have time to be sick!" And then, I realized something. I had a stern talk with myself, and I'm repeating it to you.

Go Easy on Yourself, Mama!

It's okay to set the list aside and get the rest you need! In fact, it can be detrimental if you force yourself to work when your body is demanding rest. Guess what? The housework is still going to be there when you're feeling better. The kids are not going to be scarred for life if Mom takes a day off. If your kiddos are old enough and not sick themselves, put them to work! If you homeschool, you can give them some reading to do on their own, or have them read to each other. Or give them a fun project they can do on their own. My kids actually enjoy playing board and card games together, and they recently got into Mad-Libs. Any of those things can keep them occupied for hours!

If your kiddos are younger, lay on the couch so you can be close to them while they watch a movie. It can be educational if you prefer, but it's okay to just choose something fun for the day, too. Or, if you're up for it, teach them an easy board game or card game. If your throat isn't sore, read them a few books. It's not always easy staying in "rest mode" with the younger kids all day. But do what you can, and give yourself (and them!) grace. When Mom is sick, it's a good time for them to learn sympathy and self-entertainment.

Take Care of Yourself, Mama!

While our focus as wives and moms is usually to take care of our husband and kids, we need to make sure we're taking care of ourselves, too. We can't take care of others if we're down and out ourselves. Eat healthy and make sure you're getting enough exercise to stay strong to the tasks at hand. But, we can still get sick. And when we do, it's okay to set aside that to-do list and give our body the rest it needs to get better. Our families need us, Mamas! So, focus on rest, not stress.