Here I am (left), feeling suitably sorry for myself after 24 hours in bed with a stomach bug.
This is the first time a lurgy has rendered me bedbound since BB was born in August 2011, and there are two things I have learnt:
1) Mummies aren’t allowed to be ill.
2) Number 1 isn’t fair.
At least BBB (before BB) there was an upside to being ill. A duvet day on the sofa watching daytime TV while on full pay. Those were the days! And to make matters worse, there’s not even an upside to losing a few pounds through eating nothing but tomato soup for 48 hours. Now reduced calorie intake = reduced milk supply = one unsatisfied toddler.
Of course ploughing on regardless comes hand in hand with being a mummy. I tried my hardest, I really did, but by Monday lunch time there was nothing for it: BB’s nursery was full so Misery Guts had to come home from work and take over. I’m ashamed to say BBB I wouldn’t have had much – if any – sympathy if a member of my team had said they had to go home because ‘my wife is ill’. How times change!
I gratefully took to my bed – and believe me, I really am grateful – where I didn’t budge for the rest of the day. But when I emerged the following morning, slightly dizzy and a lot hungry, this is the sight that greeted me:
The dirty laundry basket overflowing.
Because I hadn’t emptied it.
The dishwater full of dishes.
Because I hadn’t unloaded it.
The cat litter tray full of you-know-what.
Because I hadn’t changed it.
Don’t worry; I’ll spare you a picture of that.
Eagled eyed followers will also have noticed that the bedding in the first picture in this post is the same bedding featured in the picture in my post last Wednesday. The same bedding that should have been washed, dried and folded neatly in the airing cupboard by now.
But it isn’t. Because – well, you know why.
So I’ve come up with an idea. It’s called Dial A Mummy. When you’re poorly, or simply fancy a day off, fear not. Just call Dial A Mummy, who will be round in a jiffy, whisk the little one/s from your arms and send you to bed with a hot water bottle, safe in the knowledge that the smooth running of the household, as well as the childcare, is taken care of.
We could set up local networks by postcode and register our services. Tit for tat.
I think I might be on to something here…
You are definitely on to something ;O). And you are right it isn’t fair!
I like that idea too! Hope you’re feeling better by now, there are plenty of germs floating around at my place so I know how you feel!
It’s that gender divide again, isn’t it ~ my other half decided to ‘help out’ by doing the laundry while I was doing all the stuff for a birthday party, and washed a blanket that I knitted by hand when one of the kids were teeny ~ it is now about a third of the size it used to be. So he tips his head typo one side, does the thing with those soppy big dark eyes and says ‘But I was only trying to help!’
When the kids are poorly it is horrible because you just want to take their pain away but in some ways when mums are poorly it is worse because you feel like you can’t be there for them and you just feel so powerless. Here’s to feeling well again and hope you stay well for a long long time til little one is old enough to be sent to play on the computer whilst you rest (which is what i could do with my older two but now i can’t with baby around who needs looking after). xxx p.s. that wash basket is NOTHING compared to mine on a NORMAL day – we have got used to a state of constantly overflowing washing that i never seem to be able to catch up on. So go easy on yourself.
I was going to write a similar post!! I was really poorly last night and my grumpy other half was not sympathetic in the slightest. Made me a cup of tea then questioned why I hadn’t drank it and when replied ‘ I feel sick’ I just get a mummble. Grrr and when I got up this morning he hadn’t washed one cup!! Men!
I would love a dial a mummy right now 🙂 My mum has a 6 and 14 year old so I have no chance !! x