Each time I was remanded to bed rest hell during my pregnancies, I battled with an endless assault of emotions. I felt angry because my body had failed me. Felt resentful because suddenly my daily activities were being unfairly restricted. I worried because our household’s income had just been reduced by half, with no foreseeable solution to our sudden poverty.
But above all, I felt incredibly guilty. My other children were suddenly without a Mommy who could take walks with them, shuttle them from place to place, prepare meals for them, and exist as something other than a large couch ornament in the living room. In time, I learned that there were many things that I could still do with my girls. With a little adjustment, there are lots of activities that you can enjoy with your little ones even while on bed rest. Your fate doesn’t have to resemble an excruciatingly long jail term.
The important thing to remember is that it isn’t the quantity, but the quality of the time spent together. To that end, try to make those moments with your little ones count. Develop a routine or a special set of traditions for each child. Make the commitment, and stick to it. Try not to let anything get in the way of this special time. Your children will grow to treasure their time with you, and will appreciate having you all to themselves for any amount of time.
One great way to spend quality time together is reading. Reading can provide an avenue for communication for your family. Try forming your own reading group, and read and discuss the same books. Or, perhaps each night can feature reading a special book together extra cuddle time with your child. You and your child will grow closer for having a shared interest through which to bond.
Movie or gaming nights are another great way to spend time with your child. Pull out those old favorites, lay in a supply of snacks, and go at it. Set aside a day each week or so where your child gets to pick the flicks and the eats. If you both have a favorite gaming system, pull it out and get your game on! Have your own tournament, with special prizes and treats. Use your imagination to make the evening memorable!
Have a favorite craft? Being on bed rest presents the perfect opportunity to share your talent with your child. Needlepoint, scrapbooking, drawing, and even writing are all excellent crafts for kids of any age. Conversely, take the time to swap places with your child, and play student to their teacher. If your child has a particular ability, they will likely be thrilled to share it with you! Perhaps you can work together on a project for the newest addition to the family.
One of the most powerful lessons I learned was that as much as I hated it, my children were resilient, forgiving, and far more independent that I would have ever given them credit for being. They were happy to help find ways to involve me in their lives. In fact, my girls were very good about bringing out and helping to set up the materials for our various activities. I kept a couple TV trays handy so that we could turn any area I happened to be in into an instant work zone! A portable card table works well for the bigger projects. We even created a project bin that could be moved from place to place to accommodate me. That way, projects could be begun or continued with ease.
Just remember, you and your children will all survive bed rest And, as much as I detested it, the time did pass. The reward was worth it for all of us. At the end of it all, our family expanded, and we were blessed with a beautiful cherub to love.
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