Parenting whilst sick.

[Astrid]

Just wondering how the rest of you cope with parenting whilst you are ill.

I get very conflicted on what is the best thing to do. I find if I just try to rest, then I have to deal with tantrums about not going to playgroup or doing anything fun. If I try to soldier on, then I just get cranky, which often means leaving the said playgroup early, which means more tantrums, along with the risk of killing us, as I really to tired to drive anywhere.

We tend to have the TV on a lot, so that is lost as a distraction for DD1, if anything it will mean another tantrum if I dare change the channel to something I would like to watch whilst vegging on the couch.

I could have asked DH to stay home, but the last time I did that he got to nap on the couch and I didn't. DH napping on the couch is just stressful, as it means I have to keep the kids away from him, otherwise he gets grumpy So just extra work for me. Also he does not pick up the slack, like washing up or folding clothes. Him being home just creates extra work.

So what do you do? Soldier on, or just try to rest and ignore the tantrums?

[Mother Goose]

it depends on how sick I am. If it's mild, I usually try to soldier on. If it's more severe, I tend to try and rest and pull out all my tricks for DD (TV, games on my laptop, games on my phone, reading) but try to interact for a little while as often as I can.

But I'd never ask DD's Father to stay home. Not only would I be guilt tripped, eye rolled, complained to about what HE'S missing... I'd also have to do all the work + extra and break up the bickering between the two Oh, and then there is always the distinct possibility he'd go to work anyway! If it is a day DD is normally home from creche, I try to book her in (she loves it there anyway). If it is a normal creche day, I drop her off and get a carer to collect her from my car so I don't contaminate the centre.

[Cassius2]

you're probably not going to like what i am going to say as it is a classic fence-sitter response and that i kinda do a bit of both...

if there is a playgroup on i go...it gives me a chance to zone out on a chair and have DD expend some energy LOL!

i also do the whole lounge-lizard thing and have the TV on or surround myself with DDs books so that she just has to shove them in my face and i can slowly read them without having to get up too much ITMS.

do you have someone else as your mega-emergency sick support person (lol!)? i remember when i had a particularly nasty bout of tonsilitis earlier this year that i called DDs Godmother to come around and this gave me time to have a good rest...there was no way that she was going to take the liberty of 'napping' LOL!

[Rivlas]

If you are sick take the time to care for yourself. Set the "rules" early that if Mummy is sick she needs looking after. Get them to read you a story etc.
The reason I say this is that for some reasons everyone can feel off, be looked after by you but when you are sick you are expected to soldier on. It is good for kids to see that you can get sick like everyone else and be treated with love and care as you do them.

[Astrid]

Thanks for the replies ladies.

Playgroup is out of the question, it is a 40 minute round trip as well as being very full on whilst there. So the whole thing would be just plain too exhausting for me.

The spare couch has now been turned into a tent, so aside from the fights that happen when DD2 tries to pull it down, it should hopefully be a good distraction for today.

Have decided to just do little bits. Can't ignore it, as that is what I have been doing the past couple of days, so it is at crisis point. There is no where else left to stack dirty dishes