"Moms don't get to call in sick." I was told that forever. I thought I had to keep going even when my body was begging me to lay down and rest. I thought I had responsibilities that couldn't be put off.
I am very stubborn and I tried my best to keep moving even when I had a fever. Let me tell you... that was not a smart idea. I usually ended up sicker for a longer period of time and that was not helping my family at all. I learned the hard way that it was best to care for my body first. Neglecting these warning signs were only causing long term issues that eventually caught up with me.
As a homeschooling mom, I get creative on days when I am not feeling well. There are many things that you can do from the comfort of your bedroom. We sit on my bed and read together. We watch educational shows on the television. We discuss things that we haven't had time to talk about in a while. Learning can happen no matter where you are.
I have learned that I don't have to push myself to the point of death in order to be a good homeschooling mama. There were times in the past where I would get so tired that I would literally fall over by then end of the day. It wasn't a good way to treat my body and I paid for it later. Now, I listen to the signals my body sends me and I take time to care for myself. When you think about it, if you exert yourself to the point of exhaustion, will you be any good to your family? The answer is no.
It is okay to give yourself time to heal from an illness or an emotional trauma. Give yourself grace. Ask for help in areas you need it. Your children and husband will understand if you are not up to cooking a meal or cleaning the house. I believe they will be willing to pitch in and offer some extra help as you are healing. You just need to express your need for their help.
So next time you are not feeling well, take the advice of a veteran mom and homeschooler. Be good to yourself. Be open and honest about needing assistance. Don't try to be a super mom by taking on more than you can handle. You are already a super mom... you have nothing to prove.
I agree! In the case of a chronic illness, you would probably have to have some kind of way to carry on with some kind of revised schedule. In the case of an illness here and there (and that only lasts for a few days), we usually just take a few days off and catch up once we're better.
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