When planning surgery, moms worry about keeping their household running smoothly during their recovery period. Children may not understand how recovery feels and could need more care than you can give.
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You can’t iron out every bump on your road to recovery, but there are ways to help yourself keep up with the demands of a busy mom while you rest.
Time your homecoming
Talk to your doctor before surgery for help timing your homecoming. It’s tempting to leave the hospital as soon as you can, but an extra day or two of quiet rest before going back on mom duty may be just what the doctor ordered.
You can also plan to come home the weekend when you may have more help from your family or spouse.
Fill the freezer
Hungry mouths get impatient at dinnertime. Cook a few meals that freeze well before your surgery and have them ready to go. Write notes on foil or container lids so that helpful husbands, neighbors or older children can easily pop them in the oven for you.
Increase your mobility
You don’t want to overdo it, but the faster you get up and moving, the faster you will recover and the quicker life will return to normal for your children. Consider getting a knee walker so you can scoot around the house with minimal effort.
These handy scooters let you sit or kneel on wheels so you can get around without straining. Visit the Knee Walker Shop for options that fit your lifestyle and needs.
Plan quiet activities
Prepare some quiet activities to do with the kids when you get home. Playing board games, reading stories and snuggling in front of a movie are great ways to spend time with your kids while recovering. Mellow activities give the kids mom time and you down time.
Take your medications
Pain may, understandably, make you more irritable and less patient with your children. Depending on the amount of pain you experience, missing pain medications may also lead to your children seeing you in tears or otherwise in a condition that might be traumatic for them.
Take pain medication on time to minimize these issues.
Schedule backup
Even if you’re Super Mom, schedule backup during your recovery. Find someone to help you when you come home. A healthy mother is the best gift you can give your children, so get help to ensure a speedy recovery with minimal disruption.
While these tips make recovering with children easier, accept that things won’t be perfect. Recovering from surgery takes time, and until you do, remember that a few dirty dishes and some dirty laundry never hurt anyone.
Anita Ginsburg
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