Somewhere in the Rules of Motherhood there is a chapter titled Moms Don’t Get Sick. Now, we all know this is far from the truth, even the best of us sometimes can’t fight off all the germs. Being sick is never fun but being sick when you’re a mom is the worst hell imaginable. Not only do [single]moms/dads make the worst patients, [single]moms/dads make the worst sick people in general: We don’t rest, we don’t give our bodies time to heal, and we can’t stop doing all the things a parent has to do.
No matter how much hand sanitizer we use and bone broth we sip, at some point, it happens: we get sick.
Unfortunately, enjoying a quiet, restful day in bed is not an option for most moms. So, what’s a mom to do? Here are some tips to help you survive a [single]mom/dad sick day.
1. Call in the reinforcements. Don’t be too proud to call in reinforcements if necessary!
2. Simplify meals. For a sick mom, feeding her family can be a huge challenge. Keep it simple by ordering take out, raiding the freezer or letting the kids eat cereal for dinner is perfectly OK.
3. Let go of normal. Allowing extra TV or video game time helps to entertain the kids so mom can rest. When you are sick, just focus on making sure they’re fed and changed. Let go of the ‘normal’ parenting rules for a few days.
4. Find more entertainment. When mom is sick, anything goes; the goal is to keep the kids entertained, but as quiet as possible throughout the day.
As moms, we do so much for our families and when we aren’t feeling well, a smoothly run household can spiral out of control fast. It’s okay to let the house go and rely on others for a few days. If mom has time to rest, she should be back to her old self in no time. If you don’t have your health, you have nothing. If you’re running on empty you have nothing left in the tank to give out. As single moms/dads it’s vital that we prioritize our health, because everything is on us. And eventually, if you don’t prioritize it, you will come crashing down.
I don’t usually have a lot of time to just be, and to reflect on life. But basically, what it comes down to is that I’ve just been putting too much pressure on myself. And I’m going to take some time to chill. I think it’s an important lesson, and one which shouldn’t only be realized when we’re sick.
So how do you cope when the lurgy strikes and you are on your own with kids?
I make grill cheese sandwiches and fire roasted pepper and tomato soup…it’s good for the soul! This soup is flavorful, creamy, healthy and what’s a tomato soup without the grilled cheese sandwich made with gouda cheese that gives it a rich, unique flavor and smooth texture.
