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Chronic Illness- You Can Still Be a Great Mom

After dealing with chronic illness for over thirty years, I can look back and say “I was a good mom, anyway”. Fibromyalgia has been my literal ‘pain-in-the-neck’ and caused me to be non-functioning on many occasions. When my children were very small, the migraines had yet to start. This is a blessing, because you can’t very well go to bed and leave them to take care of themselves. The fatigue and pain has only become intolerable the last three or four years.

As I look back, being sick a lot has been a mixed blessing for my kids. They learned to fix themselves a sandwich and organize themselves at an early age. My daughter wanted to cook Thanksgiving dinner when she was ten years old. Even though we could have gotten take-out or something, we let her try it. I had been too sick to cook for about one month. With her Dad’s supervision, she prepared the feast as well as I could and she was so proud of herself. This gave her such confidence! She’s continued her cooking and now is a certified cake decorator. Her artistic talents are amazing and she sells her cakes, now.

So, if you’re struggling with a chronic illness, don’t feel guilty about that. Try to focus on the times you’re able to function normally, but don’t worry about the other times. Let your kids help you, according to their ages and abilities. There are many things children can learn to do, and do well. Get outside help if you can, and don’t be afraid to ask friends for assistance. A positive outlook can help you and your family deal with your illness in a way that makes them better in the long run!

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