Day 780 - Mom Guilt 😔 & Filling Your Bucket 🪣

Saturday, February 18th, 2023

James spent the day with Dad and watched a lot of Sunny Bunnies. Since James is now more active it is very exhausting chasing after him when he is getting around on the floor. We do not have nursing since Home Health nursing has lost our trust. Only Mom and Dad can watch James.

We're still trying to get used to this life. Not only having a child but a medically complex child who needs 24 hour supervision. That means not being able to just leave them in a crib and go take a shower while they nap. No, someone must be watching at all times. Even when you are alone watching him going to the restroom is a quick event usually with the door open. So if Mom can get one day to herself out of the house she will take it because she knows that James is safe with Dad. 

🪣 Once Mom fills her bucket she can defeat the physical, mental, emotional exhaustion to handle another 6 days in a row. Only having a 24-hour period to ourselves versus having the whole weekend and every evening, was a huge adjustment. We went from 24/7 go mode in the hospital, to managing day by day, to what is our current schedule.

😔 Mom guilt is real. You feel guilty for doing anything for yourself including taking a shower, because you feel like you must be with your baby every single minute. Times that by 10 for a medically complex baby. Parental burnout can happen even when parents are working together. It is so important that when you come back to your child you have energy for them, you are present and not distracted, so you can have super quality time. 👨‍👩‍👦

P.S. You can email James your love and support as often as you’d like. Mom and Dad read these email to James as they come in. We all love them! JamesWestonAbramowitz@gmail.com