Family Friday (vol. 59): Knowing When to Ask for What You Need

Life has felt completely unsettled since October. Between the girls’ birthdays, the bachelorette bash in Scottsdale, quickly followed by 4 days in Chicago, and only to come back to a TON of work. It was just TOO MUCH.

Shea was the first to get sick. Viral cough stuff. It lasted FOREVER. She passed it along to Piper who I took to the pediatrician for the first time on October 25th – viral stuff, keep her comfortable, I was told. I got sick last week – lost my voice, sore throat, cough, etc. Monday I picked up the girls and Piper visibly had pink eye. I sent up thanks for keeping all “extra” meds and started treating her. Tuesday evening comes around and one of Shea’s eyes is looking discolored. We start treating her for pink eye. If I’m being honest, I also gave myself a few doses of insurance drops to prevent pink eye.

Thursday rolls around and I am just a wet dish rag moving through life. I’m achy, fatigued, and hanging on by a thread. I limp my way through an all-day leadership retreat, but not before calling the Montessori where I was scheduled to present that evening to say, “I’m so sorry, but I am sick and I’m unable to come tonight. I sincerely apologize and I so hope we can reschedule this for an alternate date very soon.”

I never, ever do that kind of thing. I tough it out and push through. But yesterday, everything in me was saying to ask for what I needed. And the woman on the other end of the phone? She understood. It was all okay. I was so relieved. I have to remember that it’s OK to ask for what you need when you really need it.

So yesterday I went to pick-up the girls, and had planned to drop them at home with Mee-Mee and head straight to the walk-in clinic. However, when I arrived, Mee-Mee didn’t feel well and so I made the girls dinner and waited for Mark to get home before heading that way. Strep was negative, the doctor didn’t rule out mono, and he basically told me I needed to get some sleep. I came home and went to bed. I didn’t move for 9 hours…and this morning? I feel like I’ve finally rounded the corner. But not good enough to make my hockey game tonight. I’m laying low.

Today was also Shea’s first parent-teacher conference. I got to meet her classroom pet, Snowball the ferret. She’s so cute! She runs around the classroom and returns to her cage for evening, bathroom breaks, and naps. Shea’s teacher said she verbalizes her needs well and is very confident. Today, I feel like I’m doing this parenting thing alright

We wrapped up the afternoon with taking Piper to the pediatrician. I just had a gut feeling that her cough and fussiness was needing intervention. Come to find out, she has an ear infection so she’s now on antibiotics for that.

November, please improve. This family needs to get healthy!

No weekend plans other than to rest and recuperate. It sounds just like what we need. And the grandparents are here for reinforcement – woo! I think I’ll have to plan a mani and pedi!

Be well,

from Prevention RD http://preventionrd.com/2017/11/family-friday-vol-59-knowing-when-to-ask-for-what-you-need/
via Heart Based Marketing