I suffer from migraines and when I have one, I need to be in a dark, quiet room. This is difficult when you have a child at home. I have developed a few secret weapons to keep my daughter entertained so I can rest in the quiet I need.
1. Special toys. I keep a few special toys and books stashed away in the top of my closet. These are quiet toys and books that she can play with on her own. By only pulling them out once in a while, they stay fresh to her. This means she’ll be interested in playing with them for a longer length of time. We have a little doll house with a cat family to go with it, pink Legos, a pop bead jewelry kit, a few story books and some activity books with markers for her to use on these occasions.
2. Unlimited TV time. My daughter isn’t normally allowed to watch much television. She rarely watches it during the week and only watches a few shows on the weekends. I give her unlimited access on headache days, though. She has to watch in the living room and at the volume I set for her. If she’s having trouble being in another room or if my husband isn’t home, I’ll let her watch Netflix shows on my laptop with headphones on next to me in bed.
3. Playing doctor. My daughter loves to play pretend. Sometimes I’ll let her be my doctor, which means she has to be very quiet so I can rest. She’ll sit in the corner of the room typing on my laptop or taking notes on paper of my condition. This is a good way to keep her quiet and entertained for short spurts of under a half-hour while I wait for my husband to get home from work to care for her.
4. Bribing her. I am okay with resorting to bribery. I might promise her ice cream after dinner or a trip to the park with her dad if she plays quietly. She’s even been known to ask if I have a headache when she wants ice cream.
5. Arranging for backup. When I have a really bad headache or she’s just not in the mood to be quiet and independent, calling in for backup is a must. When my husband can’t be home, I call my mom, sister or the mother of one of her friends. She gets to go have fun and I can rest without worrying about her.
Migraines are painful and exhausting. Caring for a child during one is a huge challenge. Hopefully these tips will help you find quiet any time you aren’t feeling well.
Rachael is a mom, blogger and freelance writer. Find more of her parenting tricks at www.rachaelmoshman.com.
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