A little over a year ago, I found myself in a pretty unhealthy place. I suffered from IBS, asthma, chronic fatigue, acid reflux, and severe allergies. I was also sad after our 3rd move in three years and felt all alone in a big city. After realizing how many other women have similar health an emotional challenges, I felt obligated to write a post about how we as moms can keep grounded and keep going despite our health setbacks.
Today I’m talking about a few ways we homeschool moms can cope with illness.
Let’s talk about illness for a moment. How can we get through this incredibly difficult seasons?
No matter your illness (whether the flu, or worse, a diagnosis you couldn’t bear to hear), my first basic piece of advice is to keep taking your meds and follow up with your doctor. The doctor you’ve chosen can help to coach you through the process of healing.
However, I can be contrary, and I typically don’t like doctor visits. It’s not that I don’t believe in doctors. I do. I appreciate the fact that we have great health care and have access to the best doctors around. I believe in the medical industry only when I need to…because I’d just much rather take it upon myself to maintain my health and solve problems as naturally as possible. I generally don’t like treatments or interventions unless they are backed up by natural sources. Unless in cases of emergency, of course. So, I’ve learned to address my issues naturally just in order to avoid doctor’s visits really.
The key here is: address the issues. While you don’t need to make a point of avoiding medical doctors it’s important to know how to maintain your health, and to address any issues you may be having head on.
Also, another important thing to remember is that your while you might be concerned that you’re not there for your family physically and emotionally like you were when you were well, they understand and they honestly just want you to get better.
So, rather than running away from the problem (or postponing treatment) it’s best to face it head-on and work towards progress. That means keep all your doc appointments, take your meds and supplements, and nurse yourself back to health.
Remember the adage “healing takes time”? It’s so difficult to be patient with our healing process when we just want to feel good already.
Believe me, I understand. Last year was a tough one for me. There were moments when my symptoms disappeared, and then resurfaced, waxing and waning like a yo-yo. But as much as I wished I wasn’t in pain, I couldn’t afford to be impatient with my body. It needed to heal naturally (and sometimes with the help of meds).
Healing takes time. So long as you are following your prescribed protocol and listening to your body, your body will do what it needs to do in order to heal.
Try not to get impatient and give yourself all the time you need.
As a homeschool mom, you can give yourself plenty of breaks. You can ask your family to help you more. You can allow yourself time to laugh, to enjoy the moments you do have, and to resist the temptation to put pressure on yourself to perform.
When you are healing, what you don’t need is additional stress.
I know it’s hard to think about enjoyable moments when you are in pain. I’ve learned to combat this by managing pain the best I can, and focusing on the positive things in life. I also think about others who are suffering far more than I am, and I immediately become grateful that I still have a quality life.
I’ve become more appreciative and grateful even. Serving my family had become more of a joy and not a chore.
I can find so much more to be grateful for nowadays: I have the promise of good health if I can continue along my path of healing. I have a family who loves me and whom I love dearly. I wake up every day to a pillow under my head and a roof over my head. I have clothes I was able to snag on clearance from the mall. I have health insurance and medicine and doctors.
If you are going through an illness while homeschooling, what are some things you do to try to enjoy your moments? How are you coping with illness? How are you receiving the help you need to balance your life, take a load off, and give your body the much needed time to heal?
Know I’ve been through this and understand. If you need someone to chat with, I’m just a short email away.
How about you? How do you manage illness while balancing everything else life throws at you?