Finally succumbed to bloody covid and...

[covidisbloodyshit]

I have a very high energy 4.5 year old dd, a dog that needs walking, and no help. And I mean none. No family support, father not involved, and no-one else fancies taking either of them off my hands so I can rest, which is understandable.

I feel and utterly totally shit, despite being triple vaxxed and have not had a second today where I haven't had them both climbing all over me, or having to clear up mess created by dd.

Ugh. Can someone suggest how I can keep them entertained with minimal effort? Dd literally is climbing the walls, had to cancel all plans this weekend which she is devastated by. Won't sit and watch a film for more than twenty minutes, has played outside in the garden with the dog for about half an hour, but now is literally clinging to me moaning that she is bored.

I want to cry.

What area are you? I’d be happy to look after your dog for a week ( one more in my house won’t make any difference)

Do you have an iPad op? Don't feel bad about sticking her on a screen.

Don't feel guilty about the dog either. You have to be ok with letting things go when you're sick, you're allowed to be unwell.

Uber eats food, stick on tv and games, Amazon a few toys, make things as easy for yourself as possible.

@crumpet can you tell me what the apps are called?

She's done some science experiments, I can't even be bothered to care about the mess... crap everywhere! She's being very good considering. And if it was just her it wouldn't be so bad, but the dog on top is just too much.

She'll be back at preschool tomorrow, so will have to figure out how to walk dog then.

@Maytodecember that's very kind, unfortunately dog hates other dogs that she doesn't know, which just adds to the fun...

Cosmic kids yoga on you tube annoys me, but seems to engage my very energetic nearly 4 year old for ten mins at a time or so - might be worth a try if desperate.

I hope you feel better very soon, this is my nightmare and the thing I have been most worried about with covid. You will get through it and preschool will be there to help soon!

What I read about someone else walking your dog if you have covid is they should bring their own lead and clip the dog on with that. Is there another dog walker you could ask? If not, are you up to hiding treats around the house and getting your dog to find them? It's a good mental workout which will help keep them from getting disruptive. You can also hide treats in a cupcake baking tin and put tennis balls over the holes so the dog has to work out which balls are hiding treats. Another thing I've done with my dog for breakfast and dinner time is put her kibble on a towel and then twist it around so it sort of looks like a spiral and the kibble is hidden in the folds. It then takes a bit longer to find the food and helps keep their brains entertained.
I hope you feel better very soon

Can’t you just walk the dog? Go to a quite place and stay away from others? Fresh air and vitamin d will make you feel so much better.

Oh yikes poor you. Sounds hideous. Only a few more days to go. Do you have a tablet you could download some games for her on?

I second @Poppetlove.
Go out, are there woods etc close by where you can avoid people as much as possible?
I still walked our dog.
There are plenty of people that aren't even testing anymore and going about their daily business so in my opinion a long walk is fine.
You will probably feel better for it too.
Hope you start to feel better soon.

Do you feel well enough to walk the dog? I’d take her if so, will let your dd have a run around too.
You poor thing, being ill and having to look after children is rubbish. Can you Amazon/Argos order a couple of new toys/crafts? Something that will occupy her as it’s new?

If you tell us roughly where you are, OP, then a Mumsnetter may be able to help.

Another option would be to contact your local church and ask for help and support.

Hope you feel better soon. I know a couple of people who’re currently having their first go of Covid, and it’s hit them hard.

This would be when I would break out the tablet, any television she wanted, even paying for a new subscription service for some more exciting content, I might even unban Ryan or those horrendous egg opening or Barbie doll moving weird voice acting youtube videos on the big telly for the day.

I'd allow them all the sweets and chocolate and promise them the earth tomorrow.

Anything to get some rest as it's a one-off. I'd market it to them as a freeforall party day where anything goes! I'd get out the messy matt and tip the craft stuff on, allow the glue and glitter and just let them have it all so I could rest.

Tire out your dog mentally - kongs, treats in cardboard boxes stuffed with paper, handful of treats hrown into the garden or hidden around the room for her to sniff out, etc.

Sorry, I don’t as it was years ago! But there seem to be a ton around, plus CBeebies has some games for 4 year olds if you google, which might be worth a look?

I would walk the dog, except the pair of them together is a handful, esp as I mentioned, dog hates other dogs when's she's walked alone, so walks are fraught as it is (she's normally with the dog Walker all week when I am at work, where she is with her 'pack' so can tolerate other dogs).

I've chucked balls for her in the garden for about twenty mins and now am exhausted. Done more shite crafting, where I have basically ended up doing it whilst dd watches.

Dd now wants to do baking. I. Just. Can't. Even.

Play hospitals. Ideally with several toys for her to minister to. As little 'interference' with you as possible.
Real bandages if you have got any in a kit. Cotton wool. They're cheap and you can replace when you have the headspace.
Blankets/towels to be beds for unwell toys.
Empty bottles and medicine spoons.

Please be careful. Couldn't have walked a dog further than the end of the drive, and may have fallen over if I had.

Just need another whinge. Woke up this morning feeling totally and utterly shit after feeling a bit better yesterday.

However, dd can't go to nursery as they won't let me physically drop her/pick her up, and I've got no fucker else to help me.

This is the absolute fucking worst. Got a least three more days of this to go, praying I get a negative test on day five.

Sorry, don't really know why I am posting this, just need to rant.

Sympathies, Op, being sick with kids is the worst. I'm recovering from norovirus atm, along with the kids, and it was bloody grim. Hope you start to feel better soon. I mostly did playdough with mine when severely ill, at least it meant sitting still.

Oh you poor thing.... my husband and I recently had covid at the same time. Our 4yo and 1yo had it too but it barely touched them and we felt awful. We tag teamed half a day each which obviously isn't possible for you.

Is someone doing your shopping for you? Ask them to buy lots of ready meals and snacks, whatever the kid likes - crisps, chocolate, now is not the time to worry about a balanced diet.

Activities that we used:
Cosmic kids yoga (on YouTube - my 4yo gets really into it)
Water painting books (you can buy on Amazon prime for delivery tomorrow)
Water play in the bath
Games like build an assault course and you lie on the sofa and "time" them going round it
If they won't watch a film because they like being mobile will they listen to audio books while playing independently?

Is there a school or nursery friend/family locally who has recently had covid who could take DC for a play date?

We found there were only three really bad days at the beginning and then although it took a while to fully recover.

Is there anyone who can take DD to nursery for you?

How infuriating that they've got that stupid rule in place. Pretty sure they can't actually stop you dropping her ... there are no laws on isolation now and also the guidance only says 5 days which surely you've passed by now?

Also - this is when we cracked and paid for Disney+ for the 100 episodes of Bluey.

We still get the subs worth of that show every month now

No, literally no-one. They are either at work or have kids themselves who need dropping off. Luckily we have supplies in as had a shopping delivery at the end of last week.

I don't really know any of the nursery mums as she's normally dropped off at breakfast club and stays for after school club, so I barely see them. And get the feeling they disapprove of me sending her, even though she's got zero symptoms!!!

To her credit, dd is actually being very good, bless her. But she's so active and sociable, this must be so difficult for her as well. She cried this morning when I told her I couldn't take her. Just ordered yet more crap from Argos with same day delivery but that won't arrive until this evening.

And of course, the poor long suffering dog...

Just feel very sorry for us all.

Thanks for all your suggestions, etc.

Urgh you poor thing 💐

To get your DD moving can you tell her to go to the end of the garden & then back to you like a...
horse
and now like a..
rabbit
slug
mouse
snake
stag
crab
butterfly
elephant

or musical statues - you only need to press the button

Or a rainbow hunt - send her to find something each colour of the rainbow.

If your garden is a safe space for her can you see if she'd like to build homes for ants/slaters etc

Any paving she can chalk on?

Go to bed at the same time she does so you max your sleep.

I & several friends all found the exhausted/hit by a bus part lasted 4 days, hang in there 💐

The previous poster’s suggestion reminded me that I did loads of scavenger hunts with DS when trying to do DD’s home learning with her.

So the rainbow one is a good one, or something starting with every letter of the alphabet, or there are loads more online like gratitude ones, natures ones, construction type ones etc. You lie on the sofa and she brings you all the things…

im so sorry you’re going through this OP, it’s awful.