How do you cope when badly unwell as a single mum? with

It's really bloody hard, you will survive but it's tough going. I'm almost out the other end now (older teens) but it's been a grim 14yrs.
My standards had to plummet and I always had to make sure I had everything I needed in the house. Always had medication and food basics, plus ready meals in the freezer. When the dc's were little it was constant TV when I was ill.

I also had to do everything to not get ill in the first place. Really healthy lifestyle, took vits, fresh air, washed hands, never touched door handles, had my own hand towels etc.

Any neighbours or friends (yours or DD's) who might help with the school run? I think a lot of people will help if they can in a situation like this.

You poor thing op. Whooping cough is awful. You must not be sleeping as it gets worse at night. I hate to say it but it is also known as the 100-day cough as it lingers on for so long. Better you know I suppose so that contingencies can be put in place but it’s very hard when you are ill enough to be admitted to hospital. Make sure you check in with the doctors op.

Wishing you well 💐

Focus on easy meals /snacks and the bare essentials - laundry and washing dishes. Bins emptied once a day.

Tinned soup and bread, cheese on toast and fresh fruit etc.

If you can, frame it as a chance for some family film/TV time - after a bit of team work to get the essentials done.

Hope you recover quickly - and they sound like great kids. They’ll learn some life skills by the end of this!

Thank you, that's kind of you to say.

I have a 12 year old with autism OP and he definitely needs looking after as well so I feel for you x

I have survived these times a few times .

duvet on the sofa was my go too . Pillows to prop you up a bit .

i am with the freezer food , pot noodles , pizza . Pop in oven set alarm incase you fell asleep . Snacks around - fruit , yogurts so they can grab stuff , chuck a vitamin at them .

hope you are on the mend soon

Order basic fruit too, such as apples and bananas, with your ready meals and cereals, it's easy to eat and will boost your immune system. I'd also order multivitamins or a tonic to boost your recovery too. Don't forget to drink plenty of water.

Around here Ocado, Iceland and Morrisons deliver groceries in bags and will leave them outside your front door if you open the door a bit and ask them to. So much easier than unloading from crates when you are ill and reduces the chance of passing the illness on.

I wouldn't bother with a shower unless you have a shower chair/stool. Just have a thorough strip wash at the sink (sit down as much as possible) and use dry shampoo on your hair (or wash your hair in the sink/over the bath whilst sitting). You'll feel cleaner without the risk of falling and injuring yourself in the shower--an injury is the last thing you need right now.

I hope you feel better soon.

Really hope you are feeling better asap OP. single mum here- when I caught covid and was feeling pretty horrendous I just spent all day on the sofa, sleeping a lot and left my children to game (in the same room as me) and we lived off takeaways as I was too unwell to cook and my children were only 5&6.
like others have said, just try and rest and get your kids to help out if they can. Sometimes we need to be looked after too.

Get some tena pads, put towels down where you're sitting or laid, and forego PJ bottoms, just wear longer tshirts or whatever.

Anything you can do to minimise washing, and effort on your part.

You WILL get through this op, it's just shitty while it's happening.

If you can do 10 mins of a cleaning task per day, and your dc can do 10 mins each as well that should be enough to keep on top of the bulk of it.

It's hard OP. Sending

Just rest and hope for the best. They'll survive on crap food for a bit. There are taxi firms who are dbs checked and do school runs.

Yes I think I should have clarified to plan to have a cleaner in once you aren't contagious but are recuperating

No need to be embarrassed - that happened to me recently with a horrible cough too. Could you use sanitary towels or similar to reduce that happening? (Sorry if that's an intrusive question!) .

Mainly, just been kind to yourself, the children will survive. It's rotten though, I remember crawling round the house weak with hyperemesis trying to care for my toddler. It's impossible to explain what it's like when you don't have family near.

It depends on how much money you have to throw at the problem. You can order meals from Cook which just need to be bunged in the oven, or supermarket ready meals. See if you can book a one off cleaner if needed.

If you can do a big online food shop based on ease of cooking (microwave rice instead of normal rice). Order some fresh soups, which will hopefully supply you with some vitamins and minerals.

Its also ok to ask for help. If my friend messaged to say they were feeling this rough I'd offer to do a supermarket shop or drop round a homemade lasagna one evening.

When I had really bad Covid I honestly don't know what my children ate. I'm assuming crisps/ fruit/ snack bars and cereals for a week 😂

I remember 'coming round' after a week and being bewildered that we had all survived.

They found me on the floor struggling with breathing and between the 3 carried me to bed and called my sister to drive over to our town to help.

It's shit being solely responsible for them sometimes. But they will live off junk food for as long as needed. Order the ready meals and crisps and then rest.