Aargh chickenpox, how to fill the days?

[Mumoftwo1316]

My 3yo has chickenpox! She is fine but can anyone give me some ideas for wtf to do to keep her happy and entertained all day?!

For context, I have a baby as well and my mental health is really poor. When I'm alone with them both, it just feels like they're constantly Needing me and it's like a cacophony of whining and I sometimes just freeze out of overwhelm. Sometimes I burst into tears and then my dd apologises (!) and I feel like the world's worst mum. (Of course I try and reassure her it's not her fault.) I think it's still a hangover from my ppd, which I'm working on.

My coping mechanism has been to Do Stuff with dd all day until my dh finishes work.

A typical non-nursery day is:

Dh does breakfast
10.30 swimming lesson or football lesson
11.30 soft play
Lunch with dh (he wfh)
Go to park, ride the scooter, or playground. If bad weather, big supermarket trip.
Get home exhausted, 45 min of TV
Dinner
Bath
Bed.

DS just tags along all of the above, gets breastfed whenever I have a moment.

What do I do now?! Obviously I can't take her to swimming lessons or football lessons or the soft play.

Would an outdoor playground be OK if we go at an off peak time (ie before school ends)?

Is the supermarket a no-go?

I was at breaking point before this...!

She won't have it long. I definitely think this is a moment for extra TV. Or possibly a game on laptop - Teach Your Monster to Read is free, fun and educational so little guilt.....

I take it you are on maternity leave? That doesnt mean that DH can't take a day to look after a sick child. If you know you'll have a bit of a break that might help you get through it.

Is there anyone that can come to you to help entertain e.g. family or a friend who has had it already?

Outdoor playground or shops is not really ok till the scans have all gone.

Do you have a garden?

Messy play is always a winner. Very simple stuff within complicated themes e.g. let her squirt shaving foam into a washing up bowl, then drip food colouring in it. Then let her trickle water over it. Tip out and start again.....

Playdough is a good option. Many kids love to "hide" toys e.g. dinosaur, plastic animal in it and then uncover it again.

Look for ideas that are simple, have little/no clean up time and you don't normally do.

Good luck. Its crap, but it's not for long. You'll get through it.

Thank you!

In terms of leave, that's part of the problem - I'm on leave from my main job but I also have a second job that's contract based and I'm deep in a big contract with work due on Tuesday! Eeek! Dh has taken tomorrow off as emergency leave. This afternoon we've alternated sitting with our laptops on our knees while dd watched Disney Plus and ds lay around batting at toys.

Yes we have a tiny garden, not fit for football, but we spent half an hour in it this morning playing "find the shiny pebbles" (got a set of shiny pebbles on holiday). So, that killed a bit of time.

Dd isn't that into messy play but she might do some painting. Shaving foam is a good idea though, I might buy some.

I guess you're right about the shop and playground, that's what I thought anyway!

As you say, it's not for long, we'll just have to get through it! Really hoping ds either doesn't catch it, or catches it ASAP so we don't have to isolate all over again!