Please, how do you get rest and peace when you are ill?

[Easy]

I've got the most rotten cough, and it's kept me awake, and worn me out.

But ds seems even more demanding than usual. He came in to us at 6:30 this morning, and usually goes down to watch telly until we get up at 9-ish on sundays. But this morning he kept coming back in. Dh got up at about 9 (complaining my cough had kept him awake), but ds kept coming back to me at 10, 15 min. intervals. Eventually when he sat on my bed reading out jokes at about 10:30 I gave up, and got up anyway (in tears, then dh shouted at ds for disturbing me).

But I feel dire. ds and dh have gone to the park for 1/2 an hour (it's a sunny afternoon here) but it'll start again when they get back.

dh goes away tonight for 5 days again (I'm almost relieved), so I'll be a single mum again for a week. How do I get a 6 y.o. to treat me gently?

[hercules]

tv?

[Easy]

Well ds wouldn't settle to watch it this morning, which is what he usually does.

[TurkeyGang]

Videos, sweets, bribary...not ideal but hey, when you're ill..

Ask dh to do the 'you're the man of the house now, and I'm leaving you to look after mummy' sermon - he might come up trumps.

Hope you feel better soon and get some rest.

[Passionflowerinapeartree]

If you find out let me know.

[falalaala]

call all your friends and ask for help?

[Mum2OneAndBump]

Blimey I would have thought it would be easy with a 6yr old try explaining it all to a 3yr old. I don't have anyone to help when ill i just have to get up & get on with it, sometimes i only wish for a lie in let alone someone to help me out

[dulwichmummy]

Can you get him to watch TV / play quietly / do some colouring while you sit in the same room and rest on the sofa? Not ideal, but if you are with him, he might give you a bit of let up???

Take care and get well soon
X

[saadia]

Would he play on the computer - looking up fave TV progs etc or any other fun sites, or print off stuff for him to colour in.

[Marystoothyboychild]

Would he watch TV or a video in your bedroom while you doze? This is a big treat for my ds and keeps him quiet for ages (although he is only 2.8!!)

[Easy]

no Mary, ds is a 'fiddler', and if I have him in bed with me he kicks, or prods, or tweaks hair, or pulls all the duvet into a ball, or bounces or .........

I think I just need to try outright bribery, leave me alone or I'll take all your pocket money out of your jar.

BTW he was up at 6:30 again this morning, and I think I only got about 2 hrs sleep all night. I had a nap this afternoon while he was at school tho'

I'm thinking boarding school seems like a really good idea

[Bozza]

I sympathise - there is nothing like a bad cough to grind you down. A couple of weeks ago I slept for 7 nights in a row on the settee because I was disturbing the children let alone DH. And DH's are rubbish at keeping the children occupied and out of your hair (IME). But at least now DS is at school you can have a break in the day and you are not conscious of disturbing DH.

[Mincepiedermama]

This is awful for you Easy but you must try to get a break and get some rest.

I was ill recently (temperature every night, feeling tired and rotten) but I just had to carry on because there was no choice. I thought it would go away on its own. Then dh went away abroad to work and it got worse and worse. I felt iller and iller and there was no-one I felt I could ask to help (they all have kids of their own to look after). I begged my mum to come but she wouldn't.

Anyway, I'm telling you this because I completely burnt out and ended up in hospital for four days and am still not fully recovered. I just ran myself into the ground.

You really need to take time to get yourself better even if you find it hard asking for help.

Good luck.

[Mincepiedermama]

Can you get your dh to take some time off to help you through it? It's in everyone's interests.

[zippimistletoes]

i sympathise i well remember not being able to take anyone to school nursery etc because too ill and lying on the kitchen floor being sick while watching fish fingers on the grill

[bouncy]

I make a deal with my son, same age, if he lefts me have a nap and watches a few videos ie 3 hrs, I will then be feeling so much better and will do whatever he wants (within reason) with him for a similar period, usually he will go and watch spiderman video for 2 hours and then I will read / do sticker books for the same period, boring but toally worth the rest.

[Earlybird]

Would it be an option to hire in help? Perhaps a neighborhood teen/college student, or a nursery teacher? YOu could even call an agency for a temp....which I have done when I absolutely had to be left alone to rest/recover.

Hope you're feeling better soon.