Broken foot, 6 weeks holidays and two kids!

[Loobieloo27]

Hi all,

I managed to fall down a flight of stairs on Saturday and break 2 bones in my foot, I'm now in a non weight baring pot for the foreseeable. My kids are 6 and 9 luckily so are quite good at helping but impossible to sit for 6 weeks. My DH is good but housework isn't his strong point and he does have to work.

Any tips? I feel guilty we can't have the summer we planned as we were due to go on a caravan holiday next week but I'm very wobbly on crutches

Housework isn't his strong point?! Seems like a good time for him to start practicing, OP

Are there any local holiday clubs or camps for the children to get them out of the house and occupied?

Can you fix up some play dates to get you through this week? There are loads of us home these holidays and looking forward kids entertainment- I know I’d be happy to host in the circumstances.

Then try not to worry too much about. The holiday just yet.. 2 days in is early days for crutches and it’s normal to feel very wobbly with a new recent injury too. Just build up gradually and you might find the crutches become easier to manage. Is it a big static caravan with a bathroom? Because once you’re in it might actually be easier being all on one level and compact.

Call in some favours and get your children invited out with friends.
Uber and a camping chair to outdoor space?
It sucks though.

Hire a wheelchair from the red cross,makes things a lot easier especially when your arms are shattered from using crutches.

Snap OP, although I can weight bare now, I'll have been 12 weeks in plaster when it's off in September.

I'm a bit luckier as my DS is 12.

If you have an upstairs bathroom I can only recommend borrowing a commode from the hospital, I really struggle getting up and down the stairs and it's been a lifesaver.

I paid £17.50 a week to borrow a wheelchair from the red cross.

No advice here, I’m afraid, but a lot of sympathy. Maybe it helps to know it can be worse - I’ve broken my ankle, and was concerned about our caravan holiday in Cornwall. I shouldn’t have worried as dd11 was tested positive for COVID 3 days before we were going to go. Holiday cancelled. On day 8 of isolation, I got COVID , so another 10 days isolation on top. Just want to curl up, fall asleep and wake up when isolation is over and my ankle is healed…
Good luck , try to get the kids in holiday clubs/arrange play dates/get a cleaner for a few weeks. My husband is doing loads but it’s very heavy going as everything is on him at the moment , work, driving (after isolation), cooking, cleaning, kids - anything you can set in place to make life easier, will be helpful.

Thanks for all the tips, feeling very hopeless right now, but appreciate it could be much worse. I've got a chair on wheels in the kitchen so I can scoot around. Managed to do a few jobs in there. I didn't realise how tiring it would be!

Can you hire a mobility scooter? My MIL uses one on days out, as she walks with a stick but gets wobbly. We went to a national trust type place once and they were hiring out special outdoor ones that managed hills and bumps! At least with a scooter you could take the kids to the park or get fresh air.

What a pain. I hope you feel better soon.

Have you got a grabber? If not order one from Amazon, I still use mine 10 years on

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

Hire a wheelchair from the red cross,makes things a lot easier especially when your arms are shattered from using crutches.

This was going to be my suggestion.

It'll help you get out and about easier as a family on holiday.

Also I'm sure you can have some leave and quiet with a good book whilst dh takes them out too?!

I'd also look at getting some new board games etc you can sit and play with the kids as well as any local clubs they could go to.

I know I'd be happy to fetch and carry any of ds friends who had a parent with a broken bone.

I did mine 6.5 weeks ago. Got out of the boot after 4 weeks and started driving again, now totally ok. Good luck! The first two weeks were painful and tiring but got better quickly after that.

I know someone who hired a knee scooter when they broke their ankle and they said it was a lifesaver as they were able to zoom about the house and even managed to go to town using it.

Hire a wheelchair and still go on holiday

Worse case, you stay in the caravan and husband takes the children for days out
Not ideal but atleast the children still have a holiday
Ring the holiday park and explain and see if they can upgrade you to a caravan with a slope

Can you get one of those knee crutches? That'll allow you to walk without putting weight on your foot.

I did mine in March falling down just 3 stairs 😱 I have twins who were 19m at the time. My MiL came to stay for 10 days, then my DSis with her 10 year old for the 2 weeks over Easter holidays (to give MiL and me and MiL a break!). Including physio it’s was 12 weeks till I felt ok to be out and about on my own with the twins without extra support on my foot - I had phone appointments for the physio and never actually saw them face to face.

I would say plan lots of play dates if you can - perhaps offer to have selected children over for the day so yours aren’t bored then compromise on days out (plan them for days your DH is home and can do the bulk of being mobile, can drive everyone, push wheelchair) I know if friends were in the same position I would help out where I can so don’t be afraid to ask your friends/trusted school mums to help out if they can.

Thanks for all the tips, I have a few friends and family who can help out luckily!
I was debating getting a wheelchair but im at the fracture clinic Wednesday, hoping they put a boot in so it's a bit easier!