by John Taylor
So, how about these ups and downs, yeah? Feeling good one day and feeling like s..t the next. A roller coaster ride.
You see, Jude’s got this bug. Melbourne is good for bugs at this time of year and the whole family has had this one to some degree. Mine took about two weeks to get fully through but it was only a few days that were really bad. It’s nothing too serious, just an uncomfortable inconvenience like most bugs that come around. During that worst bit I did the ‘right thing’ by taking it easy, staying away from people and spending as much time as I could either resting in bed or slowing down as much as I could.
But the Jude is having a harder time because she doesn’t like to stop when there is so much to do. She’s what people call ‘driven’, something I have always admired about her. For me, I have to put energy into my ‘driven’. It comes more naturally to her.
You probably notice how she does a lot of interacting on her Mum Moments Facebook page? She totally loves that stuff and is helping people whenever she can. But that kind of ‘driven’ often keeps her up late and her sleep can be a little all over the place. Having friends on the other side of the planet can do that… staying up late on social media I mean. So she’s probably a bit worn out which probably makes her a bit more vulnerable to these bugs. Not so good.
Now, I’m a great believer in appreciating that everything happens for a reason and these seasonal bugs are just another example of that. I’m thinking they are a reminder that (a) we are not invincible after all and (b) sometimes we just have to slow down and look after ourselves.
But looking after ourselves can be a challenge too, especially when there is ‘so much to do’.
Have you ever sat in an airplane and paid attention to the safety demonstrations? They say, very clearly, that we need to look after ourselves before we look after our children. Their example is we need to place our own oxygen mask on first and then help our child with theirs.
At first I thought this was around the wrong way. Shouldn’t we look after our kids and/or others first? Isn’t it selfish (or whatever) to look after ourselves when our kids and/or others are in need or in danger?
But then it became clear…
WE need to be strong so we CAN BETTER look after others
If we are weak or sick or vulnerable then how can we possible do our best to help anyone? I’m not talking car crash / airplane emergencies or anything, I’m talking the day-to-day stuff.
So here’s Jude in bed feeling miserable with a bug saying “I have all these things to do. This is sooooo frustrating! Aaaaahhhhh!!!...”.
Me: “Stay in bed, Jude. Rest. There’s no hurry. Look after yourself.”
Jude (trying hard to smile through the coughing): “Easy for you to say.”
Me: “Think airplane emergency procedures.”
Jude (trying not to smile): “Don’t give me that airplanemergencyprocedures right now… I’m sick.”
I’m making a warm therapeutic Manuka honey drink for her now and maybe I’ll take the laptop in later. The Manuka honey is good for the bug while the laptop is good for her soul. I work on finding Jude a life-balance as part of her healing therapy.
I also make me a double black coffee and grab a muesli bar. I know that I’ll be visiting our favourite Dr Barista later for my latte therapy but, right now I figure I gotta stay strong so I can look after my girl. I found that little bit of wisdom on an airplane.
So, how about these ups and downs, yeah? Feeling good one day and feeling like s..t the next. A roller coaster ride.
You see, Jude’s got this bug. Melbourne is good for bugs at this time of year and the whole family has had this one to some degree. Mine took about two weeks to get fully through but it was only a few days that were really bad. It’s nothing too serious, just an uncomfortable inconvenience like most bugs that come around. During that worst bit I did the ‘right thing’ by taking it easy, staying away from people and spending as much time as I could either resting in bed or slowing down as much as I could.
But the Jude is having a harder time because she doesn’t like to stop when there is so much to do. She’s what people call ‘driven’, something I have always admired about her. For me, I have to put energy into my ‘driven’. It comes more naturally to her.
You probably notice how she does a lot of interacting on her Mum Moments Facebook page? She totally loves that stuff and is helping people whenever she can. But that kind of ‘driven’ often keeps her up late and her sleep can be a little all over the place. Having friends on the other side of the planet can do that… staying up late on social media I mean. So she’s probably a bit worn out which probably makes her a bit more vulnerable to these bugs. Not so good.
Now, I’m a great believer in appreciating that everything happens for a reason and these seasonal bugs are just another example of that. I’m thinking they are a reminder that (a) we are not invincible after all and (b) sometimes we just have to slow down and look after ourselves.
But looking after ourselves can be a challenge too, especially when there is ‘so much to do’.
Have you ever sat in an airplane and paid attention to the safety demonstrations? They say, very clearly, that we need to look after ourselves before we look after our children. Their example is we need to place our own oxygen mask on first and then help our child with theirs.
At first I thought this was around the wrong way. Shouldn’t we look after our kids and/or others first? Isn’t it selfish (or whatever) to look after ourselves when our kids and/or others are in need or in danger?
But then it became clear…
WE need to be strong so we CAN BETTER look after others
If we are weak or sick or vulnerable then how can we possible do our best to help anyone? I’m not talking car crash / airplane emergencies or anything, I’m talking the day-to-day stuff.
So here’s Jude in bed feeling miserable with a bug saying “I have all these things to do. This is sooooo frustrating! Aaaaahhhhh!!!...”.
Me: “Stay in bed, Jude. Rest. There’s no hurry. Look after yourself.”
Jude (trying hard to smile through the coughing): “Easy for you to say.”
Me: “Think airplane emergency procedures.”
Jude (trying not to smile): “Don’t give me that airplanemergencyprocedures right now… I’m sick.”
I’m making a warm therapeutic Manuka honey drink for her now and maybe I’ll take the laptop in later. The Manuka honey is good for the bug while the laptop is good for her soul. I work on finding Jude a life-balance as part of her healing therapy.
I also make me a double black coffee and grab a muesli bar. I know that I’ll be visiting our favourite Dr Barista later for my latte therapy but, right now I figure I gotta stay strong so I can look after my girl. I found that little bit of wisdom on an airplane.
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