The other week a virus hit our family. It attacked us all and we were house bound
for 2 weeks. One
son, then the next , then me, finally my husband.
It hit me hard. It usually takes me a lot to stay in
bed. A large glass of water and a couple
of Panadol and I pretend I’m not unwell.
BUT with this virus I could not pretend.
I was sick. I could not do
anything. I could not function, I could
not think. I could not work. I could not prepare meals,
clean. I struggled to get the kids to their
school and day care having to rely on others for pick ups as I could not physical
get out of bed.
When I was able to think again, when I was semi conscience
my thoughts went straight to Support for Mums.
What if I was like this for more than two days, how would our family
function? We would need to rely on
others to ensure children turned up on time at the right places and had meals
to eat.
This experience only exhibited the importance of Support for
Mums and their families in our community.
A family cannot function as usual, for too long without support if there
is crisis/illness.
To lie in bed and hear your family exist not being able to
get up is difficult. To ask for help is
even harder. I found it hard during this
recent illness and in the past. So many
others would feel the same.
We DO NOT have to do it all alone. Asking for help is NOT failing. Asking for support is NOT failing. It is building a community. Friends are often more than happy to provide
support, and you would provide support back when you could.
If friends and family are unable to provide you the practical
support when you need it the most please make contact with Support for Mums and
their families. We will be able to offer
you practical support including meals, fruit and vegetable boxes, home help and
information and referral.
What prevents you from asking for help?
