62 Checklist to get back on track with self-care; How I survived my sons brain surgery recovery.
As Ben recovered from the surgery and my worry eased up a bit, I realized it was time to put all my tiny self-care needs back into a normal schedule. All the things that felt so wonderful at the hospital to just keep me sane were every bit as important once we got home – although at home there were so many more distractions, I kept finding myself finishing the day in the same PJs I woke up in, and realizing LOTS of important self-care items were being neglected in my exhaustion and the crazy whirlwind of family life…
I hope you do not fall into this trap; but honestly, I think when life gets crazy, we all do… there is nothing wrong with needing a checklist to get yourself back on track with self-care. I had to remind myself to:
Drink water,
Brush my teeth,
Wash my face,
Take a shower, and put on clean clothes each morning,
Find time to eat something healthy,
Put nice lotion on my hands,
It was so wonderful to be home, but it was not easy to get back into the habit of taking my vitamins and finding time to cook healthy food.
Are there self-care tasks you forget?
How can you put a system into place to help you remember to take care of yourself?
This is just one of a hundred tools that helped me including: A: BEFORE DIAGNOSIS B: Diagnosis and PRE-SURGERY HOSPITAL STAY
C: SURGERY D: RECOVERY in patient E: At home recovery
56 “best day ever”? Feelings of gratitude can be so uplifting.
57 It is so easy to take family for granted.
58 A nice hot bubble bath can be soothing.
59 IT IS OK TO NOT BE OK.
60 Imagine your very favorite place in the world.
61 Helping kids come to terms with a difficult diagnosis.
62 Checklist to get yourself back on track with self-care.
63 Go for a short walk
64 Yoga can be relaxing and soothing.
65 Making your first thought a positive one.
66 Congratulate yourself for doing difficult things.
67 Pop bubble wrap.
68 DANCE to peppy positive song.
69 Plan a fun activity for yourself
F. CHEMO G. FAILING CHEMO H. WATCH AND WAIT
I. NEEDING NEW TREATMENT
J. END OF NEW TREATMENT / watch and wait
** Living life one day at a time.
Topics I have thought and talked a lot about over the last few years include:
#momguilt #PediatricBrainTumor #PediatricBrainSurgery
#NF1 #ParentingChronicIllness #copingskills
#nevergiveup #thereishope #PediatricBrainCancer