Last updated on June 18th, 2023 at 08:25 pm
As a single parent, being ill changes from something that used to be a minor inconvenience in life to something catastrophic. Being incapacitated with an illness in bed, while you have dependents in the household is pretty much a code red, worst-case scenario in your personal list of things that you do not want to happen. What do single parents do when they are ill?
Well, there’s not a lot that can fix the situation but there are some things that can make it better. I’ve split this post up into two different sections:
1. Prevention
Firstly, preventative measures single parents can take to prevent total disaster when/if they fall ill;
Get all your flu shots
Do not underestimate the damage of the flu. I had flu just before Christmas last year, and honestly it put me out of action for a whole week. That kind of ill where you physically cannot get up – exactly the kind that single parents want to avoid at all costs. I lay in my bed for days, wishing to myself that I hadn’t skipped my flu vaccine. Now, I’m first in line every time I get a text from my GP that a shot is available.
When you’re looking for a new job, ask about their sick day policies
As a single parent, it’s going to be a nightmare to work for the type of employer who sees you as a number and hates you taking any time off sick. There are companies out there who do offer paid sick days. And it’s always worth trying to suss out your potential new manager to see if they have kids (if they do, they’re likely to be more understanding) and if they’re a bit of a ‘crack the whip’ type. If they are, maybe think about working elsewhere.
Sweeten up the grandparents in your life
Listen, grandparents are worth their weight in gold. Let us not forget that for many families across the whole of the country, grand parents are the childcare heroes who enable modern parents to function. Keep them sweet, treat them well, show your respect! Then call them at 5am when you wake up with a fever and ask them to come get your kids ASAP.
Make good friendships with other parents who live close by
They can potentially help you out with the school runs or some emergency childcare when you find yourself in a tough situation! Even better, if your kids are good friends with each other then your child could maybe even have a sleepover at their house while you are ill, giving you some time to recoup.
Take measures to reduce your risk of getting sick
Kids bring home an unholy amount of germs and bugs. Make sure that proper hand washing occurs between everyone in your household, especially when coming in from nursery, school, a party or soft play. It might help to think about making sure everyone in the house takes appropriate vitamins, and maybe as a parent you could be taking an immune-specific vitamin product or pro-biotic drink. Healthy eating and excercise will also ensure a well-functioning immune system to keep the bugs at bay.
2. Remedies
If you’re already ill, here are some things that single parents do to try and get through it.
Have an “everybody in bed” day.
Get the kids in your bed to watch some films, read some books, play word games like I-spy or tell some stories. Anything that keeps you horizontal and resting as best as possible. You could even sneak in a nap while they watch or read something.
Call for backup
Try not to be too concerned with being a burden to someone else by asking for help. Chances are, if there’s someone who knows you and your kids who you feel can look after them safely for you, that person would probably knows what a tough job you do as a single parent and would love to do something to help you out.
Don’t be a hero
Sometimes single parents are so used to being independent that they just try to brave it out in every situation and carry on like nothings happening. Don’t suffer in silence! Get appropriate advice from the right channel. Whether that be your GP, 111, Google, or if it’s a mental health crisis, Mind. Find out what you need to do to get well and don’t delay in getting the right treatment. It’s best to actively get back on your feet as soon as possible rather than using the ‘wait and see’ approach.
Raid the freezer for an easy dinner or order-in
It’s always a good idea to have some emergency meals stashed in the freezer for a bad day. But if you don’t, maybe a cheeky takeaway is on the cards – the kids might be so chuffed with this that they’ll wish you were ill more often!
Side Note: Coping mentally and emotionally…
Being very unwell when you’re a single parent can be a particularly low time when there’s a little bit too much opportunity for negative thoughts to start swirling in your mind. When we’re ill, those are the times when we want someone around to take care of us, and it can be a particularly painful reminder of your loneliness or lack of a relationship. Just remember that it’s okay to feel like that, and you’re definitely not alone in the feeling!
Hopefully, you’ll be back on your feet soon, many illnesses don’t last more than 24-48 hours and it might not be long before you’re back feeling like your good old self.
To put a positive spin on things, illness can be a good reminder for us all to take a pause, take a day off work, rest, and be kind to ourselves and our bodies.
Ask yourself, are you run down? Have you been taking enough breaks lately? Eating right? Talking to enough people and asking for help when you need it? If the answer is no to any of those, think about whether you need to make some small changes to create a healthier outlook for yourself. Your health and well-being should be important to you, and it’s important to your kids. You are an asset, treat yourself as such!
If this post really resonated with you, you might want to sign up to be notified for the release of our Single Parent Well-being Guide, coming soon.
