How do you cope when you're unwell with a small child

[DuckDuckDiva]

And need to vent somewhere so I'm doing it here. Sorry if I don't actually ask a specific question, I'm just sat in tears and had enough so need to write this down. I'm exhausted, fell asleep with my 4yo at 7:30 and slept for 10.5 hours. Woke up drenched in sweat. Now have a sore throat, my eyes feel like they're burning, my neck hurts (probably because I fell asleep in a weird position), headache and high temperature. Feel so tired it's like I didn't sleep at all. Covid negative. Had to get my son to nursery by 8, he's been wild all morning, just logged on to work as I have a deadline today and nobody to take it off my hands. How do I get through today? I'm shattered and already dreading my son waking me up at 6 tomorrow!

Omg call in sick! Rest. This is why sick days exist.

Are you genuinely asking for advice or just complaining? The obvious answer is you call in sick and stop being a martyr

You're coping though. You got up, took your child to nursery, working and on MN. You're managing. When I've been so ill, I'd call in sick and have my DC at home with me (preschool age) if I was so ill I couldn't even take them in. I'd bring snacks and drinks for us both and stay in bed, bring books, colouring for them or tablet and stay in bed all day sometimes in our PJs for 24 hours. If something needed, I'd arrange delivery to be left at doorstep. I'd call friends and family to help. Other times I've picked up a friend's preschool/reception DC and did the school run for the mum.

I just work through it tbh.
Had covid then pneumonia before Christmas, but what else to do? The options are limited when no family and self employed.
Let child snack and eat easy food.

I would take a sick day though from work if I had an employer.

Luckily I've only ever been 'peak' sick for a day or two where I was truly bed ridden and then can physically cope with everyday life demands as a mother while I slowly get better. There's no luxury of staying in to nurse a cold for 5 days in bed anymore.

Sounds awful, but you’re not unwell with a small child, as thankfully for today he is at nursery. What you do with that time to try and help yourself is on you.

Drink and Drugs.

Lots of warm drinks, paracetamol and ibuprofen with caffeine.

Also at 4, he’s totally fine to be told ‘mummy is poorly’ and watch some CBeebies with a floor picnic.

Call in sick, put kid in front of tv, feed kid toast, take all the drugs.

Get your work done ASAP and clock off and get some sleep.

Tomorrow might need to be a duvet day.

How do I cope? Lots and lots of screen time for the kids and takeaway for tea.

This

If you can, get a hot shower, the steam will help, drink some orange juice or warm lemon water and have some paracetamol if you can.
Bare minimum at work if having a sick day isn't an option to you. If you can take tomorrow off, do it.

I will be tomorrow if I'm still feeling unwell which I'm assuming I will be. I'm going to clock off as soon as I've finished this report. Just needed to vent somewhere, and yes I probably should take sick leave but it doesn't always feel easy when you're in your probation and it will mean missing a deadline.

Book a supermarket delivery of easy foods. Stick Cbeebies on. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yeah I’m sorry OP on reflection I definitely sound harsh. Didn’t mean to be. I get it. I’ve not been allowed to ‘be Ill’ for a looong time since I had my baby (who is now a wild toddler) (and as a nanny definitely don’t have the kind of job you call in sick for unless pretty much on life support)

I’d be grateful that your son is a bit older and can hopefully understand that you’re not at your best so it’s time to watch CBeebies and eat chicken dippers.