Teach your children to look after themselves...

It's flu season. Just about everyone I know is getting the flu or has family members getting the flu. This year's flu was particularly severe according to experts with record numbers recorded.

Recently I was unwell with a chest infection for almost two weeks, though only 6 days of that were spent bedridden. I had a wracking cough and had to sleep partially sitting up. Sleep was fitful with coughs waking me during the night. I could barely get a sentence out without coughing so I didn't say much, talked seldom, didn't give many directions to the children. After the chest infection was long over, the niggling cough I had took around 3 to 4 weeks to fully go away; before I could say a full sentence without setting off a coughing fit. 

During this time my children were troopers. When I didn't wake in the morning they got themselves ready for school, older siblings helping younger ones. I would come out and see them off, giving them a hug before they left, making sure they got out the door okay. By then they'd already had their breakfast, gotten dressed, brushed teeth (at least I hope they did), made their lunches, packed their bags, then road to and from school together.

After getting home from school they made themselves snacks and basic dinners like bake beans and eggs on toast, two minute noodles, party pies and sausage rolls they could heat up in the oven. Nothing considerably healthy but not super unhealthy either. They weren't eating lollies and ice cream and chips and they were still eating fruit and some vegetables.

Then the flu hit my youngest child. In the middle of the night I felt someone crawl into my bed beside me. When I placed a hand on their chest I could feel they were on fire! They were out for the count for days. High fevers, aching body, headaches, loss of appetite, sleeping most of that time. However by the third day another child had the flu and I was taken down that night. The younger child recovered first so they had to take care of themselves again.

It was hard times dealing with weeks of sickness, one after the other, with no help. If it wasn't for my children being able to take care of themselves it would have been even harder. Can you imagine having to get up when you're really unwell and deal with children? I'm sure you can. I've had to do it when the children were babies and toddlers, and many other parents are in situations where they're ill and there is no one to help look after their children or them. 

From a young age I've taught my children some kitchen basics getting them to do as much as they can for themselves. Now when I get sick they're able to fend for themselves and this will improve as they get older and their skills are broadened.

That is what being a parent is about. Teaching your children. Helping them become clever independent people who know how to survive and contribute.

Now... to teach them to look after me when I'm sick.