Christmas is a season of joy, sharing, caring, love, and lots of food and presents.
There are lights, trees, and glittering decorations inside and outside houses all over the world.
Christmas music is played in nearly every public place, and the smell of pies, cookies, and various candies fill the air.
The world of social media has created an image of this season that is absolutely gorgeous! Posts and pictures of babies, families, decorations, lights, and videos of concerts, skits and plays, funny parodies, and sentimental renditions of the most iconic Christmas songs ever written.
There are advertisements everywhere for the best gift ideas to get for loved ones. The world is shining with the spark of the season.
But some people are not okay at Christmas.
For some, this season hurts like no other, and it springs up a depressive state that is almost impossible to escape.
Amid the joys, lights, songs, and tearing of wrapping paper are hearts that are broken, heavy, and bruised.
Some will be celebrating their first Christmas without a parent, grandparent, child, or other family member.
Some will be celebrating their own final Christmas.
Some cannot buy gifts for their children and are struggling with that reality.
Some will sit alone on Christmas, while their families gather around a tree.
Some will sit with their families, and still be alone.
Some have sick children this season, whether it be a viral or chronic illness.
There will be split families, divorced parents, and children who are spending Christmas with one or the other.
Yes, this season is about joy, sharing, and uplifting the spirits. So, let us not forget the broken and heavy-laden hearts this Christmas.
This is the best time of the year for so many, but for thousands of others it is the worst time of the year. Some will hide it well. Underneath the smiles and laughter, their pain will be hard to see.
If you know someone who is hurting this year, or anyone who is trying to be strong for someone else, bless them in any way you can.
If you aren’t okay at Christmas, it’s okay.
Reach out to someone this season. Even if you cannot do face-to-face visits, or even talk on the phone. Just go hide in the bathroom for a minute to text and let it all out that way.
Turn on your favorite therapy music (mine is angry music every time) and take a long shower. If you have littles and cannot get away for a shower, set them up with a distraction and just sit with them with your earbuds in and listen to your therapy music that way.
I see you, hurting person. And I want you to know you are not alone. It feels like it will last forever, the pain and agony you feel today. But it won’t. I’ve been there. Heck, I’m still there! Christmas was once the time of year I looked forward to the most, and now I look forward to the close of the season.
Not only do I see you, hurting person, I also understand. We will get through this season together!
That nagging, negative, suffocating yuck that is felt deep in the soul, day and night, and lasting anywhere from a day to a month in time!
What is this funk that has taken over so many lately?
Is it the Holiday Season? Was it the recent, full moon? The weather?
Whatever it is, it affects everything in our world. From housework to our jobs, family and friend relationships, communication and listening, even the ability to be mentally present at home. Everything falls under the weight of the yucky, depressiveness that makes the act of getting out of bed an unwelcome chore.
Now, I could ramble on about great solutions and “saving yourself from the funk” but in all honesty this is a monster that every person deals with differently. But I can tell you what has brought me out of mine.
Angry cleaning!
That’s right. I turn on my angry music on YouTube, get out the trusty cleaning supplies and products, and set to the task of scrubbing one room or another from top to bottom!
Now, I am an ADHD cleaner as well, so I can assure you that no single room in my entire house is completely cleaned from the floor to the ceiling. Not at all! But the music is fun. I often dance with the broom or use it as a microphone, as well as any other thing I hold in my hand during a good song. The work isn’t boring (with my three older boys the surprises I find in, under, around, and behind things are glorious!), and I have the twins to smile and squeal at me in the process. Winner!
My downtime is my killer though. Once I start to slow down, my brain goes right back to the yuck and funk, and I have to find other distractions if the cleaning stops working.
Lists.
I am a chronic list-maker! Do I complete all my lists? Nope! But I am most definitely, addicted to writing them! I make lists for everything. To-Do, shopping, menu, alternate menus, alternate To-Do’s, etc.! Last week, however, I decided to try something different. It worked! When I did this, it made me feel so much better at the end of the day! I sat down and read it that night, and my entire being felt accomplished in many ways!
I wrote an “I did it!” list.
I started creating a list of things I wanted to get done that day and stopped myself. I decided to start with a couple of things I had completed already that morning, and then pick up from there. Well, I completed another little thing, wrote that down, and saw a change in my motivation. I finished another thing, wrote it down, finished another, wrote THAT down, and started getting excited! I kept going and going until my front door opened and my children barreled in, making me realize I had worked the entire day away, and didn’t once feel the funk creep in! It was amazing!
Writing.
You would think that, as a writer, I would find solace and clarity in the thing I love. Lately, this has not been the case. I cannot tell you how many times I have tried writing THIS post, scrapped it, rewrote it, scrapped it again, and so on. I talk myself into a good idea and then talk myself right back out of it. This is definitely the post that is going up, though!
Which reminds me (Squirrel!)! My darling mother saw the funk cloud looming over my world, and she decided that I would be leaving my house to go to the store with her last week. At first, I thought it was a great idea. I knew I needed to get out, and honestly, I wanted to. But it didn’t take half an hour for me to talk myself right out of doing anything of the sort. I sent her a text telling her if the babies fell back to sleep, I would just give her my list of needs and stay home. Her reply? Ha! “Well, I won’t be ready to go until X:XXam.” Which basically meant “I know what you’re up to, and I’m not letting you out of this.” And, as life would have it, by the time she was leaving her house the twins were awake again and ready for the day! Good job, Mom.
She came over, helped me get the babies ready to go, and off we went to Wal-Mart.
We were in that store for EVER, but it was such a good time! We shopped, found some awesome stuff, looked around, and found more. And we bought it all!
My mom drives a Buick Encore. Does anyone know how tiny those are?! Yeah… Me, Mom, twins in car-seats with car-seat bases, and groceries, birthday presents, Christmas presents, supplies for parties, cleaning, etc., all crammed into this teeny-tiny car! When we arrived at my house and opened the doors of her vehicle in my driveway, random shopping bags just started dropping to the ground all around the car! We expertly disguised the presents from the children, while having said children assist in hauling the grocery and necessity bags into the house. There was plenty of laughter, smiles, and good times that day. It was exactly what I needed.
Is all of this going to help me tomorrow? I have no idea. I can say that I feel better, tonight, right now, as I write this little story to you. It has reminded me that even in the funk I have had some good days. It’s nice to remember that, especially when the funk feels like it has lasted for weeks when, in reality, it may have only been hanging around for a few days.
I also understand there are things that bring the depression on, things that we cannot control at this moment in time. It’s the Holiday Season. There are those who are going to pass through this season without loved ones for the first time. There are people who cannot afford gifts for their children. There are some who have no income and no support. There will be frustration, exhaustion, depression, overwhelming emotion, and the funk will descend (or already has) relentlessly. I get it. I feel you. I am some people.
This is why I needed to write this. Because I know. I KNOW how this feels.
I am not on the “other side” of my battle just yet. I am still in the muck and mire of the worst days of my life. You all get to watch me come out of this from the bottom up. I am not coming to you after success and victories. I am coming to you from the “rock bottom” scene. And nothing would make me happier than to have you all travel up the mountain with me. In your own victories, your own testimonies, and your own successes! Let’s hold each other up, praise the little wins, relish the small victories, and gain ground with every step of the way.
It doesn’t matter what you do to get out of your funk. What matters is you get out of it. I’m still pulling myself out, but this has helped me immensely. It helped me because I know I am going to reach someone who needed this today. I am speaking life to someone who needs it. And that, my friends, is where I gain my ground.
WE got this! WE will feel the sun’s warmth again. WE will dance in the rain. WE will climb this mountain before us, and WE will shout our winner’s chant at the peak together! I’m in your corner every step of the way!
This post went an entirely different way than I intended! But I am so glad it did!
From one “funky” mother to another, rise up! Slowly, if you have to. But rise all the same. You got this. I got this. WE can do it!
Do you have teens or tweens you stay up and worry about when
they aren’t home? Do you have small children who struggle with insomnia, or the
endless need for “a drink of water” every five minutes, for five hours after
bedtime? Are you up every couple of hours with an infant (or more than one?)
who needs fed and changed through the night and day? How about all the above?
Studies show that “motherhood” is the leading cause of lack
of sleep in women (disclaimer: “studies” are my personal experiences,
observations, conversations, and advice from mothers and grandmothers in my
life).
There are many things besides the children themselves that
can lead to sleep deprivation. Let me break it down for you:
Before your first child is even born you may experience: Heartburn Indigestion Gallbladder problems Headaches Nausea Insomnia Stiffness of joints and spine Swelling of hands, feet, and face Blood sugar problems Blood pressure problems Increased appetite Decreased appetite Weird food cravings day and night Constipation (or the opposite!) And the list goes on!
During the infant stage of your child’s life you may
experience the above, PLUS:
Memory loss
Confusion
Brain fog
Clumsiness
The inability to speak in adult tones and use big words (i.e. “I need to go
potty”)
Strange facial contortions to entertain said infants
Dark circles under the eyes
Shaky hands
Wobbly legs
Constant worry that leads to MANY baby monitors and speakers around the house,
and the continuous need to open your eyes and stare into said monitor screen to
search for breathing movement, twitching, baby alertness or sleep patterns,
listen for noises, and possibly spot them looking back at you in the camera.
Because we KNOW they know what they’re looking at!
Increased coffee intake
In the toddler years the above mentioned are only enhanced
by these additions:
Increased stress levels
Hair pulling (sometimes they pull your hair, and sometimes you pull your own!)
Tantrums and meltdowns (not them, you)
Hoarding (gotta hide the snacks somewhere!)
Conditional hearing loss-I like to call it a “tune out” button
Conditional increased hearing abilities (Mom hears all the “no-no’s”)
Forgetting your own name
Fatigue
Stronger arms and legs (have you ever fought with a toddler? Daily?)
Stronger lungs (chasing said toddler before they reach the street)
Supernatural vision and ability to find things nobody else can locate
Bruises and scrapes
New locks for EVERYTHING and all the keys that go with them
Eating random things at random times (those little baby puffs are good!)
Less patience with adults who sound like the kids
Eating and drinking from tiny dishes and cups
A sudden understanding of babble, and amazing interpretation skills
Ability to clean a house in under two hours, but decreased desire to do so
Additional, increased coffee intake
Now, as the children grow, some of the above mentioned may
fall off the list as new things are added. This is not a guarantee, though, and
every mom should be prepared to just…keep adding. Especially if they are adding
more children as the current children continue to grow!
The infant and toddler years have come and gone. Now, the
children are in school, making friends, and Mom thinks she might get some sleep
at long last! Wrong! Let’s take the above mentioned and add the following:
Detective skills-scoping out said child’s friends and their parents
Increased stress levels (yep, they keep going up)
Achieved the “whisper scream”
Ability to stretch a few dollars over several days
Increased adult tones and use of bigger words (I need to go number two)
Lie detecting skills
Sleeping with one eye open ability increased
Sleeping standing up
Sleeping in the car at pick-up for school
Ability to get from house to school to practice faster than a speeding bullet
Relief that there is now online grocery shopping and free pick-up
Bedtime enforcement strategist
Referee skills
Larger coffee maker installation
Eventually… built-in coffee corner in the kitchen
Ok. My own, personal experiences reach as far as the
upcoming list portion, and there they stop… for now. However, I will revisit
this in the future and add to it accordingly.
We enter the tween/teen years! Our list has taken a life of
its own by now, just as the minds of our children have now taken a life of
their own, leading them to believe they know as much (if not more) than their
parents, and adding to the sleepless nights we have already suffered over a
decade by now. Continuing with the above mentioned, we will now add:
Increased stress levels!
Increased detective skills
Lie detector on high alert
Increased phone bill (because they will have phones, and we WILL have locators
on them!)
Increased food budget
Decreased shelf life of said food (it’s gone in hours!)
Higher insurance payments
A second (or third) job for Mom
Return to school for some moms
Less hours in the day
Less hours in the night
More frequent use of paper plates and disposable cups
NON Sleepovers; because who sleeps at a sleepover?
Purchase of stock in Folgers, Keurig, and other coffee companies
Sleep deprivation is real, folks!
They say it is possible to “catch up” on lost sleep, eventually.
I’d love to know who “they” are who believe this to be possible!
I have recently become my mother in words as well! “One of
these days you will wish you took those naps, went to bed at that hour, and
didn’t fight sleep off all the time, when you have kids of your own!”
Yeah…..
So, here’s to those naps you get to sneak in, whether they
be on the couch, in the car, your child’s bed, hidden in the closet, or even in
the shower! You deserve whatever sleep you can get! All of us here at “Team No
Sleep” are in your corner, pillows and blankets in hand! We got your back!
*ends blog post to get up and tend to crying babies…….at
4am*
I am going to share with you the hardest part of pregnancy
to talk about: Postpartum Depression.
PPD is REAL, folks, and it is not a nice companion to have
around. I won’t sugarcoat anything, here, because the monster that is
depression is bad enough on its own. Bring the hormones of post-delivery, life
changes, and no sleep into the equation and you have a whole buffet of yuck to
carry for a period of time.
What was PPD for me? It was in my smile, my laugh, my
sadness and my cries. PPD hovered over my shoulders through the good moments
and the bad. The first several weeks after the twins were born, I felt the
weight of PPD pressing on me, and I constantly wondered when it would show its
ugly head.
But! There IS a silver lining to this dark cloud, and that
is time. With time, support, and sometimes medication to help the process be
more bearable, PPD will be a thing of the past that you can look back on with
relief, knowing you made it through with flying colors!
Now, I will set a storyline here for you.
My pregnancy was not easy. Not at all. If you have followed
me thus far, you have read the overview of my three trimesters carrying the
baby dragons this year. For the things I did not write about, however, there
are many. The final weeks of the pregnancy were painful, stressful, and
sometimes overwhelming in ways I cannot describe. Physical pain, emotional
struggles, and life circumstances had me buried from all sides. I spoke with my
doctor before the twins were born, and I informed him that I was very aware of
my chances of PPD after delivery. My Dr was excited that I would recognize my
chances before birth and set up a plan to help me if I needed it.
Pause:
If you are pregnant, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR about PPD before
your delivery! This will be a lifesaver for you and your child(ren)! I cannot
stress this enough! The sooner you are fully informed of the chances, symptoms,
causes, and treatments for PPD, the easier it will be for you if/when it starts
to happen. It doesn’t always happen, and it doesn’t happen to everyone. So,
don’t think that you are going to develop it just because you are having a baby.
Hormonal changes and “baby blues” are common, but PPD is much more serious, and
not as common at all as people would think.
Ok. Resuming:
Let me back up a year for you…
Last summer, yours truly was a woman who needed medication
to help me deal with the sucker punches life (and people in it) were throwing
hard in my direction. Being a single mom is hard enough, and with all the other
things on top of my title alone, I couldn’t deal as well as I wished I could.
So, instead of turning to alcohol as I had in previous years (another story all
in itself), I went to my Dr. He got me started on some SUPER mild medications,
and it was enough to get me out of my fog to function again. Annnnnd then I got
pregnant.
Fast forward to delivery…
I had been without the medications the Dr had prescribed for
me for several months now, and I was afraid that PPD would be a heavier burden
than it was with my firstborn son. When I had my oldest child, I was unaware of
the depth of PPD and where it can take a new mommy. (Again, I stress, don’t let
it even begin there for you! Talk to your Dr before you deliver!)
This time around I knew I needed to open up to someone and
get ahead of the game! And I did.
Postpartum Depression doesn’t always mean you are going to
sit and cry all day and night. No, PPD is so much more! It is confusion,
frustration, and irritability. It is the inability to sleep, and the inability
to stay awake. Sometimes at the same time. You can go from happy to sad at the
drop of a hat, and you can go from sad to happy just as quickly! The emotional
highs and lows are much more drastic than normal depression highs and lows. The
added hormones make everything seem more extreme.
What would normally make you a little emotional now has you
in tears, sobbing uncontrollably for long periods of time. What would normally
frustrate you sends you into a fit of anger that is completely unlike your
normal self. Sights, sounds, and smells can set off an emotional response
without warning.
For me, it was the dreading of the sunset every day. I would
sit and stare out the windows, begging the sun to stay high in the sky, and
would cry as I watched it slip below the horizon. In the dark I felt alone. I
knew I wasn’t, but boy did I feel like I was!
The sounds of a baby crying would irritate me and make me
feel helpless to help them. I felt like I was doing everything wrong, like I
wasn’t good enough, or the right person for this job. I wanted people around me,
but I wanted to be alone. Silence bothered me, but noise irritated me as well.
You can’t explain it and that just frustrates you even more.
Searching for words to describe your feelings and thoughts during PPD can be as
frustrating as the symptoms themselves. Yep, I’ve been there. I’m still there!
Don’t ever be ashamed if you did, or do, suffer from PPD!
Never! Don’t be afraid to talk to a doctor and take medication to help you
through the process, either! When you know you are not alone, and when you know
someone else out there truly understands what you cannot explain, things don’t
seem quite as heavy as before.
I see you. Single, married, surrounded with support, or
alone. I feel your struggle, and I understand. Oh, how I understand! When we go
through these times, although it is so hard to do, go with what you KNOW… not
what you feel. You may feel worthless, hopeless, and at the end of the rope.
You are not! Let me tell you what you ARE:
Strong: you may be struggling, and feel weak, but you are
making it through each day and will continue to do so! You are superwoman! You
are battling hormones and stresses that others cannot see or feel, and you are
rocking it!
Worth your weight in GOLD: Women who are faced with PPD find
in themselves an ability to carry themselves, their children, and other family
members through it all! Laundry, dishes, housework, homework, baths, showers,
just taking a breath and staring out the window! Every ounce of strength you
have makes you that much more valuable!
And finally, you are going to be okay. No, you may not feel
like it. I didn’t feel like it! I dreaded each day, each visitor, each change,
and even the things that stayed the same! But here I am now! There is a light
at the end of the PPD tunnel, I promise you!!
Some tunnels are longer than others, and some people will
come out sooner than others will. But I am a witness to victory over the silent
killer, the ever-present monster that is Postpartum Depression. Not everyone will
understand. Cling to those who do! Reach out to someone you know who has been
there and made it through. Listen to the testimonies of those who were where
you are now. You’ve got this, Mama. I believe in you, just like so many
believed in me.
Third trimester blues were a reality for me this time
around. This being my fourth pregnancy, I thought I had it all under control.
Ha! Twins will definitely create a new conundrum for any mom who thinks she has
it all together!
I did not ever find that burst of energy people talk about
getting before the end. The second trimester was tense enough, but the third…
Oh my heavens!
The contractions started around 31 weeks. Braxton Hicks Contractions
were a thing from halfway into the pregnancy, and I was accustomed to what they
felt like. The new contractions, however, brought a level of misery and discomfort
that took me off my feet for weeks!
It wasn’t just the contractions, however. I had pains in
places I didn’t know could hurt! I knew something was up with my body, but I
could never put my finger on it. So, I took my concerns to my Dr…
They say not to look online for a self-diagnosis, but my
body was screaming at me that things were not right, and my doctor’s office was
adamant that it was “normal,” and it just seemed worse because I was carrying
twins. Yes, they brushed off my concerns like they were nothing. You read that
right. So, what did I do? Oh, you know it! I got online on every pregnancy
website I could locate and listed all my symptoms. Yes, something was wrong,
but I could NOT convince the medical staff of my concerns’ validity. Not one
time! (At least I can say I stayed away from WebMD and “googling” my symptoms
LOL)
I could go into details about the external circumstances
that were also driving my health problems through the roof, but let’s just say
I was dealing with a lot of “life situations” that brought on some mild
depression and anxiety… of course, coupled with the third trimester conundrum I
was having, my body was DONE.
I went to the hospital twice with the contractions issue.
Once at 32 weeks, and the second time I was nearly 37 weeks along and felt like
I was dying. Literally. I prayed to survive the drive to the hospital, and the
return home (because they sent me back!). But! I got some answers that day,
along with some extra testing and things to make sure that my life, and that of
the twins, was not in any real danger should they send me home.
I changed doctors, at the suggestion of the Dr on call at
the hospital that day, got in to see the new one the very next morning, and he
scheduled me for a c-section for 8 days later. I had mixed emotions about the
date (again, the other life issues that were happening as well) but was happy
to finally see a doctor who believed me when I addressed my own concerns! I
will talk about my new, favorite, doctor in an upcoming post. He’s a riot!
Now, during these last 13 weeks of my life, this GLORIOUS third
trimester, I was facing the attempt at completing my house remodel as well. No,
this was not some glamorous remodel idea and case of bad planning. I had to
move walls, repair floors that were falling in, and do some other necessary
things before I would even consider bringing newborn twins into the home. My
helpers were gone, my money was depleted, and I felt so lost in the mess of
things.
I created a Facebook group so my friends and family who
wanted to stay updated on my pregnancy and situation could keep up with me.
These WONDERFUL people came to my rescue in so many ways… blessing me with gift
cards to the stores we were getting supplies from, money to help cover
expenses, and gifts for the babies that overflowed my home! My older boys were
blessed with gifts as well, which made them feel included and gave them some
peace. Words cannot describe the mountain of emotions that I faced daily, and
words cannot describe the appreciation I have for those who went out of their
way to assist in any way they could.
The time came closer and closer, and things were getting
done one-by-one. A few, small things were still incomplete when I went into the
hospital July 16, but I was okay with that. They were minor and could be taken
care of later. I was simply relieved that the big stuff was done, my home was
nearly ready to bring in two more humans, and I was finally having them!!
Now, the takeaway from this chapter in my story is this:
When you feel like something is not right in your body,
whether you are pregnant or not, get specific with your doctors and demand the
necessary procedures to get answers! You know your body better than anyone
else. Allow me to share with you what was wrong with mine…
I was severely dehydrated. The twins were sucking every
ounce of nutrients from me, and in my condition, it didn’t matter what I ate,
drank, how much I slept or stayed active, my body was not getting the nutrients
it needed to keep going. Now, the positive is that the twins were perfectly
healthy at birth. They were both over 6lbs (I’m trying not to get ahead of
myself here…) and they were in amazing shape! I, however, was not. Along with
the dehydration, my iron levels were dangerously low. When I say dangerously
low… they prepped two units of blood before they would even allow me to go into
the procedure to have the babies! They also pumped several bags of fluids into
my body via dual IV connections before, during, and after the c-section. My
body was depleted. Entirely.
Those final weeks of pregnancy, the last 3 months, were a trip
through Jurassic Park! But every ultrasound picture, every kick, bump, fetal
hiccups, and all signs of life and healthy babies were worth the troubles.
Would I do it again? Begrudgingly, yes. But I would do it all over again to
have them in my arms today. It was excruciating, and unbearable for weeks, but
the reward is totally worth the struggle. Double reward!
Second takeaway from this post: Accept help offered to you,
and never forget you DO have friends who love you and care about your
well-being. You just have to be open about your struggles sometimes. If they
don’t live with you, they won’t see it. Sometimes sharing your concerns with
those who WANT to help you is what will be your saving grace. I am a “suffer in
silence and alone” type of person. It was HARD for me to open up about my concerns.
But, I did. And the blessings that poured from my being real and raw with those
close to me far surpassed my problems! One day, I will be a blessing to someone
else in need. I will pay it forward, and return the favor bestowed on me by so
many.
Are you on bedrest for pregnancy or any other reason?
Are you restless, agitated, or bored out of your mind?
Are the walls closing in? Is every sound from other humans
in your household about to stomp your last nerve? Is the stir-crazy about to
set in?
Well, here are a few things I have done to help with my bedrest
blues that might help you out too!
Let’s face it, you can only scroll Facebook and Pinterest on
your phone so much before it all looks the same. But it was thanks to Facebook
groups for pregnant moms, and Pinterest pins with great ideas, that I was able
to overcome the dreaded bedrest blues from time to time. So, let’s go over some
of the amazing ideas I found, used, and loved!
My Home Business: I am an independent Scentsy consultant and a lot of my business traffic is online. I spend portions of my days creating flyers, pictures, promotions, and invitations to online parties on my computer. This is something anyone with a home-based business can do, as nearly every direct sales or home-business has online components to them anymore.
Blogging/Journaling:
Well, yeah! That’s what I do! Now, writer’s block is an issue at times when one
is attached to a bed with only windows and a computer screen to look at. But I
realized so many others out there are stuck to their beds as well, and my most
recent writer’s block totally went away!
If you write, this is the perfect time to do it! Even if it’s not a blog. Journaling
is therapeutic, as well as other forms of writing. Songs, stories, poetry,
jokes, lists, and the ideas go on!
Read Books:
While I understand it is easy to just grab your phone, tablet, or Kindle
reader, and open digital books to read, I highly recommend physical books.
There is just something about holding a book in your hands, turning the pages,
and closing the book after the last page has been read that is simply
satisfying. There’s a plethora of book genres to choose from, as well. Ask for
recommendations on social media and try a few.
Binge Your Shows:
If you have cable or satellite TV, great! On Demand channels are awesome! I
have Netflix, Hulu, and Prime Video myself, and I use them daily! You can list
your favorite shows, check for updated and new episodes, turn to your social
media for suggestions, or just try out new things you’ve never seen.
Learn A Hobby:
There are so many hobby ideas and options out there!! YouTube videos abound
with tutorials and instruction videos for nearly everything! And it doesn’t
matter if you are Right-handed, Left-handed, or Ambidextrous! I am Left
dominant and I have learned knitting, crochet, and other hobbies most Lefties
find hard to be taught, thanks to YouTube! Here are a few things you can do as
a hobby while on bedrest, and even long after you are finally free!!
Jigsaw Puzzles (you can get a board or other movable
solid surface to set on your bed)
Coloring books or pages (have you seen the giant
coloring posters online??)
Scrapbooking/Stamping-making cards (this is a
perfect time to hand-make your Thank You cards for all the well wishes and
gifts you have or will receive.)
Making Jewelry
Exercise: I would strongly suggest speaking with your doctor before engaging in any form of exercise, but if you get cleared to do some, here are a few ideas for you as well.
Bedrest Yoga (you can find videos, information,
instruction all over the internet for this)
Mild Stretching; arms, side bends, legs, neck
rolls, and some mild back stretches.
Meditation/Deep Breathing
Leg Lifts
Yoga Ball Stretches
Entertain the Children:
You’d be surprised how much the kids miss you (if you have any) when you are
confined to one area and they are not! Even the most independent child in the
home misses their parent/loved one when he/she is not seen around the house.
Here are a few things that you can do with the kids without having to get up
and be active, and still have a great time!
Board Games
Card Games
Coloring
Word Games (Mad Libs, Mad Gab, Say What, etc.)
Watch Movies Together
Puzzles
Crafting
Build Legos
Drawing
Read Books
Tell Stories (you’d be surprised with the things
they come up with!)
These are just a few things that can be done to pass the
time bedrest seems to steal from you. In all honesty, it really doesn’t steal
much! Yes, it prevents you from cooking and cleaning, and running those
important errands for you and the family, but there is such a bright, silver
lining for this dark cloud!
It’s hard not to fall into depression when stuck in bed.
These things can help prevent depression from creeping in.
Another thing is “Mom Guilt.” I am currently struggling with
that little speedbump myself! Don’t give in! Accept the help of family and
friends. Be excited about the food that is brought to you. Take advantage of
those offers to take the kids for an hour or a day, to entertain them and give
everyone a break. Don’t feel selfish or useless when the offers for help come.
Some of these offers are coming from people who have been there and understand
your struggle. They WANT to ease the burden. This is a temporary situation, and
once you are up you can return the favors and kindness in your own ways. Make a
list and read it often. It helps to see the names and times they helped you
feel a little better. And maybe work on those thank you cards!
I hope this has helped spark some positive vibes and given
you some ideas on how to survive your Bedrest Blues. Everyone has different
ideas, different ways of coping, and not everything works for everyone. I’d
love to hear back from my readers and see what helped you! If there’s anything
NOT on my list, please feel free to share! I love getting new ideas and trying
them out!
Remember, you are strong! You are important! And you can do this!
