One of my mom's from the SSM (Successful Single Mom) Transformation Program is so sick she called to ask for help and suggestions. What do you do when you have children to feed, homework to do and that unending list of things to do ... and you are so sick you can't see straight, and you don't have anyone to call for help?
How do you manage a situation like this? What are your tips for our fellow sick single mom?
4 comments:
Call for help! Whether it's another mom you know through your kids school or some other way, reaching out to other moms who've been in the same situation is the best thing to do!
You also have to let things go too. Sometimes, when you're just to sick to do anything, you have to accept that whatever you can't do today will wait for you tomorrow. And there's nothing wrong with cereal and PB & J's for dinner!
hope Alisa feels better! Let me know if there's something I can do!
I am feeling better, but being sick is definitely a struggle. My poor kiddos pretty much got ignored for hours on Tuesday night. Luckily Sierra is old enough that she can help keep her eye on things...at least she can warn me if there is blood or fire!
Having a support network prior to these occassions is key. When you are sick it is DAMN hard to think about who to call or what to do. Especially when all you want to do is lay down, bake in your fever, and sleep.
Cold cereal is a life-saver. And it will probably take me a week to get the place cleaned up. LOL.
Being sick, to me, is one of the hardest challenge single moms face. Aug. I hate asking for help, but that is exactly what I've had to learn to do. But because I don't have family in the area, the kind of help I can request is the kind of help that doesn't expose the helper to my illness, which includes -- pick up something from the store, take my daughter to school, and let my daughter play at your house for a while. My requests can't include -- please fix me some soup, clean up around here, locate my medicine, or sit with me because I feel so bad and alone. I don't have a solution for that problem -- because even my friends in my single mom network can't afford to get sick either. Any thoughts from anyone else on this?
Wow! I've been there and done that so I know how torturous it is. I think that single moms have to start training their kids to follow instructions for times like these.
When my daughter was four I began training her to do simple things like fix a sandwich, pour milk, answer the phone, and give her baby brother a bottle. By making her a little helper she willingly did what I needed her to do (within reason).
Isolation is a big problem for single moms and it's so important to be able to call someone. It could be a matter of life and death (or at least days of sickness). We feel so proud and don't want to burden others but that is counter-productive. You may call a daycare provider, a co-worker, the landlord's wife, or anyone you deal with everyday for a quick favor.
Tell the kids that you are sick and encourage them to read, watch a dvd, or play quietly. Try to keep plenty of individual snacks, juice boxes, and easy to reach cups for water. Also teach them to clean up after themselves. That will cut down on the mess you will have to clean up later.
I hope this helps and I hope you feel better soon.
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