Parenting toddlers is challenging at the best of times. When you are sick (not to mention when your spouse and child are sick along with you!), the challenge is multiplied by several magnitudes. But your children still need to be fed, cleaned and occupied. How do you handle this?

Find Your Village

In today’s society, where it is common for people to live far away from their families of origin, it can be difficult to find a support network.

Happily, for those with a healthy community in their place of worship, or those with good friends from school or college living nearby, one can build an adequate support network of sorts.

My husband and I are indebted to our friends who have been able to babysit the children while we took some time to recuperate from gastro one Christmas, and when I recently came down with pneumonia and other infections. They also plied us with nourishing food and fruits.

Reduce Your Load

I have been thoroughly blessed with supportive and flexible employers and colleagues who are ever anxious to ensure my well-being and that of my family. They have been able to swiftly adjust the workload of the team to take on my duties whenever I have suddenly been knocked out of action. This gives me great comfort, knowing that I am not seriously affecting the daily or weekly workflow.

Do What You Can, When You Can

Let the dishes pile up! You or your spouse (or a helpful friend) can get to them later. Order takeaway if it makes life easier and keeps your family fed (we did that when we came down with coronavirus, which was far less debilitating than that bout of gastro).

Reduce your expectations of yourself – and your little ones. If they make a mess of toys in the lounge room, so what? At least they are happy and occupied, and you get to lie down a while longer!

What other tips do you have for getting through a time of illness? Let us know in the comment box below.

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