[Pup]

Okay, well, as you all know, I'm poorly
(health wise, both mentally & physically,
apparently my heart/brain/ovaries are shrinking and have been told I have to recover, have to eat so and so, blah blah, my life depends on it,
I have a high possibility of having CFS, (seeing a CFS Nurse in the next few weeks)
despite trying to eat daily(not enough but still more than I was having and keeping it down), it's making the possible-CFS worse and my health is everywhere),
and I was going to do babysitting for the next few months once a week, with a 1 year old and 3 year old.

After a lot of thinking, I'm still skepitcal on if I'll even be able to do it, if I'll cope, both mentally & physically.

I've been told I'm too weak for medication and too weak to even go to college, so what about the babysitting???

My cousin has offered for me to look after them tomorrow for a few hours, my mother practically answered for me and told her that I had good intentions but she didn't think I'd be able to do it. She didn't say why, I don't think. So I'm not sure what's happening anymore regarding the babysitting anyway.

What should I do?
Any opinions on this?
I'm so skeptical, I don't want to let anyone down, but I don't want to put both my safety and the kids safety at risk.
Should I give it a try and see how it goes first?

[pachyderm]

Do you have anyone who could give an informed and reasonably professional judgement on whether your condition would permit babysitting?

[gimmeice]

(((((((((((((( Pup )))))))))))))))))))))

My opinion is that if you are to weak for medication you probably shouldn't be babysitting especially in that age group, one year olds and three year olds are challenging even when you are in good health.
Sending you lots of hugs

[AAAAA]

I would have to agree that taking on two toddlers would seem to be too much for you right now. What does the mother have to say about the situation? Talk to her and perhaps the two of you can come up with a solution.

[jerrymichele]

I would focus just on your health right now.

[sabby]

One very important thing I tell myself and others as well....

If you are in the position of caring for others, first you must care for yourself.

We can't possibly give the best care to those we love if we are not feeling up to speed

Take care of #1 ((((((((( pup )))))))))) so that you can gain your health and strength and then you can give good care to others!


sabby

[Naturefreak]

(((Pup )))

[Hunny]

(((((((( Best Pup )))))))))

May I commend you on your intelligence, and I might add humility, once again. You have the common sense to ask for opinions of people who care for you and although we don't know you in real life, we know that you are pretty straight/honest about who you are, to us.

I agree with the comments of the others, taking care of yourself is paramount. However, I do think that your cousin could benefit greatly from your help. I have a notion that just being there will benefit both you the children and your cousin. But, I would strongly emphasize that she should remain in the house too. Go for an hour a couple of times a week.

Reading stories to children, playing playdough with the older one, colouring could all be extremely beneficial to you all. Make it for an hour. It will help your cousin. It will help you by getting out and I'm sure those wee ones will love you, as we do here.

Hunny

Originally Posted by Pup

Okay, well, as you all know, I'm poorly
(health wise, both mentally & physically,
apparently my heart/brain/ovaries are shrinking and have been told I have to recover, have to eat so and so, blah blah, my life depends on it,
I have a high possibility of having CFS, (seeing a CFS Nurse in the next few weeks)
despite trying to eat daily(not enough but still more than I was having and keeping it down), it's making the possible-CFS worse and my health is everywhere),
and I was going to do babysitting for the next few months once a week, with a 1 year old and 3 year old.

After a lot of thinking, I'm still skepitcal on if I'll even be able to do it, if I'll cope, both mentally & physically.

I've been told I'm too weak for medication and too weak to even go to college, so what about the babysitting???

My cousin has offered for me to look after them tomorrow for a few hours, my mother practically answered for me and told her that I had good intentions but she didn't think I'd be able to do it. She didn't say why, I don't think. So I'm not sure what's happening anymore regarding the babysitting anyway.

What should I do?
Any opinions on this?
I'm so skeptical, I don't want to let anyone down, but I don't want to put both my safety and the kids safety at risk.
Should I give it a try and see how it goes first?

[Pup]

Hi everyone.

The babysitting is for like 12 hours, cousin is gonna be out - probably at work or something.
I can't do it for just an hour, the plan was to do it for the entire day, and sleep over the night before...

I'm really skeptical on this... I don't know... thanks everyone.

[FooZe]

Originally Posted by Pup

My cousin has offered for me to look after them tomorrow for a few hours...

Originally Posted by Pup

The babysitting is for like 12 hours, cousin is gonna be out - probably at work or something.
I can't do it for just an hour, the plan was to do it for the entire day, and sleep over the night before...

I'm really skeptical on this... I don't know...

Hi, Pup!

If the first way had been an option -- to try it out for a few hours and see what it was actually like -- I would've said that was the way to go.

If it's 12 hours or nothing and you already have all those misgivings, I think you're quite right to be skeptical. Do take care of yourself.

[Pup]

Okay, it's sorted out.
My mother didn't even ask me about it > she told her already she don't think I'll be able to do it, and my cousin wasn't mad at all - she's gonna take in leave (her work offers a lot of holidays/days off *which is a plus!*)

I feel angry at my mother that she didn't even ask me and let me decide, but yeah.

[hurtingintn]

[(JD)]

Oh I agree with the others....take care of yourself! Right now it sounds like eating properly is a chore for you, so that would be my first focus. Then, obtaining enough rest and restorative sleep is important. Once you have those in control, then you can see if you are strong enough for medicine to help you. (Whatever being too weak for medicine means, IDK.)

[ECHOES]

A 1 year old OR a 3 year old separately require a lot of energy and together even more. Unless the babysitting is at night and after they are in bed, it sounds like it would require more from you than you have to give at this time.

I'm wondering if you and your mom could do it together. It might be fun

[Pup]

Too weak for medication = my body won't be able to handle it.
Too weak for college = my body won't be able to handle it.
> it's too weak/unwell.

Anyway, as I said, sorted out.

[Wish_I_Wasn't_OC]

If you really want to TRY it, why not have a back up person. 10 years ago I had a very small preemie. Ian is now playing little league football and is a strapping 10 year old doll. But when we brought him home, I had to go straight back to work and leave him with my very ill equipped husband. Lovely man but one who had never, ever dealt with children let alone a preemie. We had a visiting nurse once a week (which you won't have) but I also enlisted the help of friends, neighbors, my mother, brothers-in-law etc. Everyone had a day that they were going to "pop-by" or be on call for help. It gave me the best secure feeling thinking that someone was on back up in case of emergency.

I don't know if this helps but maybe once you have tried it and feel confident that you can do it without help, then you won't need people on stand-by.