I do not have any extended family and my husband works out of town, so I have quite the challenge whenever I become ill. I can’t call in sick to work; I’m the only one on duty.
Illness has plagued out family for the past two months; I can’t remember a time in the last eight weeks that someone in our household hasn’t been ill. A few times that’s been me. It’s been tiresome for all of us.
So, with this on my mind, especially having been ill more than once recently, I’ve been thinking of ways to make those days when I can barely take care of myself, let alone the family, any easier. I can never know ahead of time when I’m going to be ill, so this week I put together what I call my “sick day kit.” Here’s what I’ve done:
- Clothes When I was pregnant I was told by well-meaning friends not to get dressed up the first few weeks after the girls were born because people would think I was doing fine and wouldn’t be as helpful. The idea of walking around in my grungies all day, however, drove me crazy. When I’m really sick I don’t care about that; however, I still have to do things. I bought an end-of-season, highly discounted velour-type track suit from Old Navy for $5, added a tank top and underwear, and put that into a large canvas bag. I’ll have something comfy and coordinated to wear just in case I have to go to the doctor’s office or have to deal with some other unexpected errand, and I won’t have to think about finding something to put on when all I want to do is curl up and go to sleep.
- Potions and Lotions I have some travel bottles of nice-smelling shampoos and lotions that I put in there; even when I barely have the energy to shower, I know that I always feel better when I do. Maybe those will give me a little pick-me-up.
- Occupy the Kids My older children can pretty much occupy themselves; I can also direct the older two in homeschooling activities. (I may not be up to teaching math, but I can tell them to read ahead in history or literature or something.) The five-year-old is more of a challenge. I found a clearance children’s DVD, a coloring book and crayons, and a small game and put them in the bag so the kids don’t find them. It’s something new that hopefully will keep the little one busy while I crash on the couch.
- Reading Material I have a few magazine subscriptions I got for free, but I find I don’t have time to read them. I put a few of those magazines in my bag. (I’m also going to put some of them in the car for the next time I get stuck waiting for something.)
- Kleenex It never fails…when you have a cold you’ve just run out of tissues. At least I’ll have one box in reserve.
I considered a small bottle of Tylenol or cold medicine, but I decided to keep those things in the medicine cabinet for safety.
I’d love to hear your suggestions on what to add to my “Sick Day Kit.” Let’s hope I won’t have to use it any time soon!
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