Getting Real with Kira Hazledine
It’s horrible when our kids are sick, isn’t it mommas? All we want is for them to feel better, and who doesn’t love the extra cuddles? Except… it does get old after a bit. Not that I’m complaining. It’s my job to take care of my sick child, and nurse her back to health (literally and figuratively if you’re breastfeeding). Problem being, that any sort of self-care, which I’ve talked about being super important, goes out the window. So how should you handle all this?
- Don’t bother taking shifts, because your sick child only wants you.
- In a perfect world, you could take shifts with another capable adult, but your sick child will more than likely start screaming the second you walk away. Doesn’t matter that you’ve called in their favorite aunt, or that you’ve enlisted the help of dad, who normally makes everything better. They want you, and you only. Don’t you feel loved?
- Cancel all your plans.
- Not only is your child sick, but it’s probably coming for you too. That is, if you’re not sick already. Might as well notify everyone in advance that all parties and other engagements are cancelled until further notice. You won’t be going anywhere for a while, and like we just discussed, your child only wants you anyways.
- There’s no manual for this, are you kidding?
- Sorry, but you’re in the trenches now. There’s going to be a lot coming at you, like snot, throw-up and tears. No one said motherhood was easy. Reschedule that girl’s night for later in the month, because you’re going to need it.
I wish I could actually tell you how to entertain a sick toddler and keep your sanity in three easy steps, but I can’t. The rules of the game are pretty much whatever your sick child wants to do, even if that means watching cat videos for an hour. That also means possibly skipping meals and showers because your sick child won’t let you do anything else but watch cat videos. So, you watch some cat videos, grab a cheese stick for yourself, and make the best of it. If you want to stay sane, you’ll have to keep repeating to yourself that this will pass. Your child will get better. And then the second they do, you can and should take some time for yourself. You earned it.
