Single mum with covid

[spiritofvodka]

I'm on day 5 of covid and I'm feeling worse by the day. I have two young children reception and year 3 and I'm a single parent. Does anyone have any tips on how to get through this with the kids? Home schooling has gone out the window today and I've struggled to do anything but feed the kids and get the youngest to sleep. My oldest made breakfast for her sibling this morning and is helping the best she can.

Get online and get delivery slot for asap. Order paper plates and cups. Microwave ready meals and lots of child friendly food bananas, grapes, give yogarts, fresh juice, etc. The poster who said first thing in the morning when your energy level is likely to be higher get a carrier bag and put all snacks, drinks for kids and you for day in.bsg within your reach. Put a blanket and pillow on sofa and lie down. Put on a blu ray or dvd to amuse kids. Get a black sack near to you and give kids good on paper plate then tell them throw into sack when finished. Order in takeaways you are too I'll to cook atm. Let kids school know they will not be going work until you are well. Have you got family who can chat to kids over Teams while you nap? Could a friend pick up your youngest and keep them for a few hours, feed them then drop them back? I don't want to frighten you but if you do not have any support or backup at all find Social Services number just in case you.feel do bad you just can't stay awake or need them to add sort out kids for you for a week or so. I am a foster carer and have had children at short notice when do ingle parents have had to go into hospital and they have no once else to support them. Find number just in case. It will give you peace of mind. Drink plenty of water. As soon as kids in bed you go to bed too. I hope you feel better soon.

As one single mum to another just let everything slide until you feel better.

I used to really sweat the small stuff but leant when I was really ill last year to just let go.

As long as they and you are fed and they are healthy and happy it's fine.

You are doing a great job

This advice is amazing and thank you for all of the support. Daughter now has temp, so help from anyone outside is out the window now. I will call school tomorrow and let them know the situation. I really wish I could sleep, but I just can't stop coughing, whatever position I try and sleep in. I have a food shop coming in a couple of days for a top up from Iceland. I've never used them before, but they have plenty of slots available and great for easy meals, whilst I feel like death. I have got friends happy to drop stuff off etc. My parents are too vulnerable to help out, even though they have offered, but I just can't take the risk and they are having to isolate anyway as I saw them the day I got symptoms. I do have an oximeter and my reading is around 96-98, so nothing too concerning.

Ex lives with him mum and isn't allowed to see me and the kids whilst we are ill. Whatever his mum says goes. One of the big reasons we are no longer together.

If worse came to worse and I needed to go into hospital I have got friends and family who would have the children. If I start to feel worse then I might have to start asking for some extra help. Hopefully it won't come to that.

Their dad needs to be leaving you some cooked meals for the kids on your doorstep.

To the people suggesting that OP's children get 'taken out to the park' ... obviously they can't do this. They are self isolating because they have covid so can't leave their house for 10days!

This is my nightmare. I have disabled dc and my family are dead. Ex husband turned his back and wouldn't step in. I live in fear of catching it as they will be alone in the world.

No suggestions but

How are you today OP?

Hope you're ok today? You sound like you've got everything under control. Main thing is to focus on resting and forget housework, home school and everything else 'normal'.

And thank goodness you're not still with your ex - sounds like a complete waste of space who would probably have made this even harder for you!

Take care, and if you're struggling, come here for a vent and handhold, you've got lots of support here xx

Hi ladies, feeling very achey this morning, no better than yesterday, but thankfully no worse. I've called the school and let them know. I'm trying to force myself to eat an apple this morning. CBeebies is in and so far the kids are behaving. I'm going to have to do a wash today as youngest is running out of trousers and I'm almost out of clean knives and forks.

Fill the sink with washing up water and let the kids wash up while you rest on the sofa. Put the washing in, and then ask them to hang it up once it's done- they'll probably hang it all over but at least you'll preserve your energy!!

Glad you're not feeling any worse, the aching is awful though. Have you taken some paracetamol?

Good idea to try and eat, but if you can't face it, I wouldn't worry. I went over a week without eating but my appetite is finally back to normal now. Main thing is that you keep drinking.

I hope you have an ok day. Another day closer! xx

You are doing amazingly, if I was dad I’d come and stand on the doorstep and talk to the kids at the very least.

Just checking in to say I hope today was ok, well done on getting through another one x

These last two days have been a complete blur and I don't think I've slept more than 3 or 4 hours at night all week. I tried twice to nap today, but my throat goes dry and then I start coughing and can't shift what I have on my lungs. I've tried sleeping propped up but it's not helped. Chest is still tight, but oxygen levels are good. I also seem to have developed a bit of a blocked nose and can't taste or smell anything now. I'm hoping I get some sleep tonight and the kids will be good for me again. I've got massive brain fog, so I hope this reads ok. Thanks again for all your support, it really helps not feeling so alone during this and also hearing how others managed to get through this.

You’re doing great, keep going. Rest when you can, even if it’s middle of the day.

Really hope you get some rest tonight.

I hope you can get some rest. I really feel for you, please let us know how you are feeling tomorrow. Wish there was some way we could help you x

Have you spoken to your GP? I ended up needing antibiotics, you might be the same if your chest is bad? Sorry you're not getting much sleep, must be so frustrating xx

Hope you're ok OP. I guess you must be having a bad couple of days- I promise it does get better xxx

Hey, sorry for lack of update. Yesterday was pretty bad and I'm on antibiotics now. I'm not feeling worse, but not feeling much better yet either. Kids have been so lovely and helpful. I'm struggling to eat much at all and have to remind myself to eat as I can't smell and taste anything at all. I'm getting lots of calls from my mum and friends checking in on me, but we are still managing. Both kids have symptoms now, but seem ok. Thank you all for checking in on me.

Great to hear from you. I think I was at my worst days 6-10 so you're right there now. Glad you've got antibiotics as I didn't get them until week 3. It's amazing how kids cope so well isn't it? Mine have made me so proud- and yours are really young so I bet you're bursting! I think kids of single parents have a rough ride sometimes bless them, but it makes them stronger I'm sure. Fingers crossed you'll get stronger in a day or two now you have antibiotics. Don't worry too much about food if you can't face it - I didn't eat at all for over a week, and even fluids went straight through me or straight back up due to d&v. And I'm eating really well again now- putting back on all the weight I lost unfortunately!! Rehydration sachets are great though, if anyone offers to drop off supplies for you. Take care and update us when you feel up to it- I was getting worried about you! Xxx

Oh OP I hope you’re doing ok. I’m a SP too to tell small kids and being ill (any ill but this particularly at the moment) is something all
sPs dread - I never “got” health anxiety until I became a SP. sounds like you are doing an absolutely stellar job but thinking of you regardless x

Do not take this as me being morbid as there is such a tiny tiny risk of you being seriously ill, but does your eldest know what to do in the event of an emergency? As in if you’re too ill to get out of bed etc, would they know to call their dad, who would HAVE to come and collect them?

I only say this because my mum was a single parent and one of the things she drilled into us from very young was if she was ever very ill, we were to find X’s number which was stored in X place and call for help.

Please don’t take this as me being morbid, I just remember it as an usually sensible thing that my mum did. We did actually have to call once, when she had norovirus and it was helpful to me to have a plan!

I've just added rehydration drinks to my food delivery for tomorrow, so thanks for that. I've been a single parent since the youngest was a baby, so it's been drummed into her how to call 999 and she has her dads number and my mums on her tablet. I've also written our address on the fridge. It's horrible having to drill it into them, but it's my worse nightmare that something happened to me and the kids being stuck unable to do anything. I do feel I'm turning a corner now, so hopefully it will start improving over the next few days. It's been so lovely having some online support and advice from other mums who have been through this, it's been really appreciated.