I have broken my leg

[littlebird55]

I have two young dc. My dh is working non stop and my nearest family member is nearly 200 miles away. All my lovely friends are away or visiting other family or sick. Literally no one is around to help me even a little bit.

I was doing okay up until this afternoon, I have been stuck inside this house for a week now and feeling the cabin fever. I have used up every last craft idea, movie idea and now I am just crying. I am in pain, I am tired as I can't sleep. We are snowed in and I don't think I can take much more.

Do you have ideas at all how I can get through this?
I am too scared to go out in the ice and snow with my leg in full plaster and crutches. I am trying to be positive but I have hit such a low, I don't think I can carry on with getting through the day much less another five weeks of this.

I am looking into a wheelchair now, would certainly help my hands are getting sore already. I didn't think of that thanks - brilliant suggestion.

Chrys - I know very well it will be over in five whole weeks, but they doesn't help me at this moment in time when we are snowed in, very little food, dc killing each other. I will bear in mind a mantra. Something along the lines of I need a G&T right here and right now. A great little painkiller and can soothe my bloody frayed nerves. will pass as a lemonade hopefully.

Oh dear littlebird. I’m chronically ill so your situation is normal life a lot of the time. My dd is used to seeing me unable to do anything and crying when I collapse. When I’m worse, she now routinely tells me to go to bed, she’ll be fine. She’s 9. It’s ok to be like this, you know. You just have to keep going on doing what you’re doing. And resting. It will pass. On the plus side, it’s the weekend so get planning the days out your dh is taking the kids on. And organise some play dates. Parents will be willing to pick them up if you explain.

how far is the nearest shop?
time for a 'dare' for dc with a tub of ice cream as reward?

Mummy

I seriously admire your strength and courage. You sound totally amazing and so does your dd. Yes I am so hoping he does need to work this weekend as well. Praying.

I had major surgery last year and was out of action for six months, I had time to plan and to organise the dc and people were so helpful. I got through it even the bad days/very bad days. But this has really come out of the blue.

Love to you and your dd. I admire you hugely.

Def get the kids to help!

Who is 200 miles away?

I'd travel that far to help someone.

I broke my foot when dd was 6 months old and ds was 3. It's hard. Whereabouts are you? If you are in Yorkshire I don't mind helping if I can.

Have a look on Amazon, there are some plastic covers that you can get which will enable you to have a shower without damaging the plaster on your leg. Sorry I don't know the name of the brand to help you more.

Hi OP
I'm really sorry things are so awful right now.you're right,it will pass but in the meantime you need practical help.
Have you considered contacting the red cross?they have a lot of volunteers who usually help people just out of hospital with jobs at home,with families etc,although it's not exactly in the remit,they may very well have someone who is happy to help,it's usually for a six week period.might be worth a try and if they can't help they can put you in contact with someone who can.
Are you dc part of any scouts or brownies group who might come round and help?
Perhaps your Dr can give you some more,stronger pain relief as you sound in agony.
Would Skype with family and friends keep them amused?
Maybe them earning points for chores done can keep them busy?they build some many points for each task and they can be redeemed at a later time for a trip to the park,or going swimming or to the beach for a picnic?
Sending you kindest thoughts op

try homestart, they are a charity and have trained volunteers to come help with childcare etc in similar situations!

It is about two miles away the nearest shop so prob too far in this weather and I would be worried sick. It is moments like this when I think we need to live in a town. We are in the middle of nowhere - beautiful but staggering unhelpful when this happens. What I wouldn't give for a shop!!! Or a pub or any sign of life!

Google "knee walker ".It's another way to help you get around.The broken leg rests on a narrow padded seat, there are handlebars and wheels.Narrower than a wheelchair and more versatile ?
Depends where your cast/fracture is.It's worth a look.Here's a link to one you can hire www.strideon.co.uk.
In a previous thread posters said it saved their sanity.
Don't despair.Your husband possibly sees putting his head down and working as the essential way to help ?

Longdistance I agree re why have DC if not to start earning their keep, as it were. Mum’s broken leg or not! I’m thinking cups of tea at regular intervals, loads of washing done (incl folded and put away), basic meals...
Sorry you’re feeling so low, OP. I really hope you start feeling better soon. You’re not a terrible parent

You poor thing. I’m due to have hip surgery that will gave me out of action for 5+ weeks but I have local family and a DH who’s more supportive. I would think the DC could definitely manage laundry with light supervision. Big one to cook and little one to do washing?

Sit the kids down and open your heart to them, tell them this is their opportunity to impress you more than ever before.

If you have the money, this is definitely an occasion to use it. In our area (Edinburgh) there is a babysitting agency that can send ridiculously over-qualified people (eg moonlighting paediatric nurses) to babysit at short notice, at a price. See if there's similar in your area.

Are any of your children's friends around, so that one at a time could go and play with a friend with friend's parents collecting and returning them for the odd day? You'd probably find just one child easier to handle.

Sending this sounds tough!!
Just a thought, can you contact a few parents of your dc's school friends, explain your predicament and ask of the dc could come over and play (taxi over if necessary) if my ds's school friends contacted me like this I'd be there no problems. People do like to help and it'd give your dc a break from the house.
Also, I presume dh is off now for the next few days. Can he take them out and do some really energetic activities with them? They probably need the fresh air and exercise.
Hope you start to feel better soon!

I am googling homesmart. I hope they can come out in this weather. I will put all dignity and plead.

My family live 200 m away and are not in the best of health, my in laws died last year and we only have one sibling in this country between us. Now I know why people live in communities close to their families!!! A bit late now :)
Testing. Good luck with your surgery. Plan your childcare carefully and make sure dh is around for at least 2 weeks and then followed by a tag team. You can't get better unless you can rest and recover.

Treasure hunts, they write the clues for each other to follow

15 min pick up. First to pick up 15 things wins, then sort buy room they have to be put back in

Teach them to do head stands against the wall, time them and see if they can beat their previous best

Write a list of jobs for Daddy to do when he gets home

Read a story to Mummy

Get the boxes for the Xmas stuff out and each child gets one category of decoration to pack away

The getting overdressed challenge, how many items of clothing can you wear at the same time.

Write a list of jobs and each child chooses 2 to be responsible for today, dishwasher emptying/filling. Bringing Mum cups of tea, laundry collecting/washing/hanging out, making a snacky lunch for all, writing a shopping list

Climb around the room without touching the floor, strategic placing of cushions before this starts is useful

Build a snowman outside the window so Mum can see it

Make the beds with a fuzzy friend surprise for sibling

I hope this gives you some inspiration, sending a hug

zzz
Almost everyone is away for christmas/ on holiday or are too far in the snow for me to ask them to make a treacherous journey over here to get to me. I would feel bad even asking.

I will try next week when I think a few of them are back -

Do you use FB or social media? Try a plea for the kids, explain what's happened and that you are desperate for help.
Failing that, I'd try and find a cleaner/helper to come to the house for a few hours a day. It will be company for you and a weight off your shoulders if everywhere is kept tidy. They could do laundry, basic meal prep etc and just keep on top of things. I hope you feel better about it all soon, i only had 3 days on the sofa with a sprained ankle and was ready to chew my arm off i got so frustrated.

Sea

I have printed that list out!!! Thank you.
Woudl be good for testing too after her hip surgery.

Op I feel better your pain

I'm nearly week 5 of a broken leg & my kids are 9 & 11. Dh has been brilliant but he's self employed so has to work.

I'm a lot better now that I'm not in pain. Pain & tiredness from not sleeping well makes everything else so much worse.

I've been ordering Tesco shop & just getting food I can bung in the oven & ready made soups.

Make sure you get calcium rich foods to help healing xx

I have realised I am not a good patient Jane, not at all. I am not good with being stuck in. I am chewing and then some!

Don't fret about the kids. Being able to stay at home and having lots of screen time would be the perfect school holiday to my two.
When you are well book yourself a weekend away somewhere even if it's just a night at a B&B in the next town, just you mind, your husband can stay and look after his kids.

ny

you are nearly at the end. You must be mighty relieved the end is nearly here.

Were your dc at school? Did you get any help? It is only a week and it is pretty tough going