Last year kicked my ass with the biggest learning curve I have ever experienced: how to manage life with an often sick baby, a senior job, a marriage, friendships and everything else that happened in between.
Between Easter and Christmas at least 1 – and usually 2 – of the 3 of us had some kind of illness. Edie was hospitalised 3 times, most dreadfully in December for 5 days with a mystery virus.
However, we did make it through. And there were small moments. Small lessons. Small and important lessons, particularly for me to remember as we head in to what could be another winter of illness (and this time I’m pregnant).
- Ask for help. For us this usually meant support from family and friends who brought food over for dinner or texted advice at strange hours or my boss who often understood when I caught up on work from home at strange hours.
- Be organised. Do not leave buying the birthday present to the morning of the party or anything similar. Buy it / book it / organise it as soon as you know you need to and then when something goes awry, you’re already sorted.
- Stock up. Have mountains of paracetamol for you and pamol for the baby. Have lemons, baby wipes, hand sanitiser, toilet paper, washing liquid, coffee, tissues, nappies, formula, etc so you don’t have to go anywhere when you can’t decide what hurts more – your throat or the way the baby is crying.
- Take the moments of personhood wherever you can and wherever they come. And sometimes they will come at strange times. Drink a fresh, hot cup of coffee in a small sliver of winter sunlight; have a lunchtime express pedicure; take a long shower while someone else is on watch.
- Keep swimming. Summer finally did arrive and does arrive and WILL arrive. You can do this because you have to, because you have no choice and because you can’t think of anything else or anywhere you’d rather be.
Wish us luck!