Running Out of Spoons
Ever have a day packed with deadlines at work, errands that you’ve put off to the point that you no longer can, meals that need to be made and laundry that has to be done, and you were out of spoons before you even got dressed? Yeah, it’s one of those days.
Parenting is hard, y’all. Parenting with a chronic illness (or many) can make it seem impossible some days. So where do you find the spoons? How do you keep going when you’re all out?
My little one decided last night would be a perfect night to have an all-nighter. My husband works 2nd shift and doesn’t get home until nearly midnight, so the nighttime stuff is on me. Hubby then decided to have a weird dream at 4 this morning and wake me up after I FINALLY got the kiddo down to bed….so when the alarm went off…I wanted to cry!
I do have a few tricks up my sleeve though. It’s not perfect, but it does help.
Online Grocery Shopping. This is my savior. I just finished my grocery shopping in about ten minutes in between tasks at work. I scheduled my pick-up time for right after work, that way I don’t even have to get out of the car. I just pull up, call the number, and they bring me my groceries. Not having to take a toddler into a grocery store, try to remember everything on your list with the brain fog, wait in line to check out, pack everything into the car? Yeah, that is a HUGE spoon saver for me! It is $2.95 at my local store if your grocery bill is under $100, and free if it’s over that. To me, that’s totally worth the time and energy saved, and honestly, I end up spending less money too, as I’m not impulse-buying anything. Totally worth it. Google online grocers in your area if you haven’t already done this!
Fitness Center Daycares. Also another saving grace. Even on days that I do not have the spoons to pick up a barbell, we have a gym membership that includes 2.5 hours of free childcare each time we use the gym. There have been many days where I have taken her to the gym, signed her into the daycare, and have just gone and alternated between the jacuzzi and the sauna for the full amount of time. It gives me a chance to relax, and the jacuzzi and sauna benefits on my inflamed body are really beneficial. Gym memberships can be pricey, but finding one with childcare has been worth every penny. Plus, a lot of companies or insurance companies will offer you a discounted rate! My gym allowed me to use a discount offered through my health insurance as well as a discount offered through my husband’s job, so we pay a very low price for our membership. My kid loves playing in the daycare, and I love playing with my big heavy weights! And when I can’t, it’s still nice to get a break in the sauna!
What are some of your spoon-savers that get you through these kinds of days?
#ehlersdanlos #fibromyalgia #neuralgia #fitness #chronicillness #chronicpain #behcets #lupus #pregnancy #powerlifting #spoonie
