I awoke yesterday morning feeling ill, stomach cramps, nausea; I was lightheaded and could not stay on my feet. I had the stomach flu. My Husband had already left for work. About six-thirty my four-year old daughter came in and crawled in my bed and said good morning. I told her that Mommy was sick so she needed to watch some cartoons for a bit. She then asked if I was not going to be able to make her breakfast. Poor baby, but the truth was I didn’t know how. I couldn’t even stay on my feet for more than one minute before I felt like I was going to pass out. I called my husband at about eight and he came home from work to get my daughter fed and to school as well as some nausea medicine and Gatorade for me.
All of this reminded me of the days as a single Mom. When you get sick as a single parent there is no one to make the kids breakfast or to run to the drugstore for you. You have to find the strength somehow to get up and get kids fed and usually off to school. For those who have little ones it often feels too overwhelming to have to get the kids ready for pre-school and yourself, in the car and off to school. So, you opt to keep the kids home. You then end up having no time to get well because the kids need attention and someone to fix their meals and baths. You can’t just fall asleep, which you desperately need to do, and let the toddler wander the house.
Yes, getting sick as a single parent does not allow for a traditional sick day. All you can do is:
1. Sleep when the kids take naps
2. Make easy meals that require little clean up
3. Get them to bed early so you can rest
4. Call on a friend or family member if possible to help you out.