How do you deal with having MS and a young family?
Well, I struggle - I have two children, my eldest girl is 5 and my youngest boy is 4 and they are absolute terrors - as in most young children every day is always at 100 miles per hour. How do I deal with this and the fatigue...………. well I don't know sometimes, but all I suggest is routine routine routine.
First of all, I try and conserve my energy everyday, this maybe as little as sitting down with the kids and reading them a story instead of playing games or chasing them around the house.
Secondly, I always make sure where I can I go to bed at a reasonable hour, 8-9 hours sleep is my minimum to be able to function the next day. If I can get more in than even better. On this point at weekend I try and get an hour's sleep during the day. Thankfully I have a very understanding wife who gives me that option (I always return the favour if needed).
Thirdly, I try and have a high energy diet - granola, cheese berries etc, don't miss meals. If I miss breakfast I might as well right off the rest of the day, I'll go into this in more detail in future blogs.
Finally I am as honest as possible with my kids, I talk to them in basic terms that daddy is not very well (If I am having a bad day or a relapse) and I need them to help me to get through the day, and they honestly love helping - it maybe something as small as putting there toys away or maybe painting tomorrow when I am having a better day, but all in all every little bit of energy save on one day is a chance for me to use more energy the next and enjoy and play with my children.
Pretty straightforward but it gets me through everyday and has done for the past few years.
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