February in New England is about the time we’ve all had enough. It’s cold, it’s gray, the snow is seemingly endless, and this year our long-awaited February break is limited to staycations. We’ve gotten creative with how to keep our kiddos entertained at home and we try to get outside as much as we can, but some days, particularly days when the weather isn’t great, that can be challenging for me.
One of the first things anyone who’s diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis is told is that the heat is basically our sworn enemy. Symptoms flare quickly in the heat, so much so that we can’t take hot showers or do any sort of exercise that raises our core body temperature. What we’re not really prepared for, or at least I wasn’t, is that any big change in air pressure, including snow, can cause lots of discomfort. When it’s really cold and snowy, I experience neuropathy in my hands and feet, tremors in my legs, and I literally can’t. get. warm. Temperature regulation is hard for people with MS, and it’s just as difficult in the cold as it is in the heat. Since sometimes (ok, pretty often) it can be hard for me to do some of the winter activities that are built-in energy-burners for toddlers, here are a few ways I’ve learned to work around my limitations…..and trust me, it’s a work in progress!
Bring the outdoors indoors
If you follow along on Instagram, you know how much we love bringing some snow inside. When there’s any amount of snow outside, my boys grab any container they can find and ask me to “scoop the snow, Mama!”. We use a big sensory bin container to fill with as much snow as we can, add a couple of measuring cups and some food coloring, and it’s entertainment for hours – literally, until the snow melts. Recently, since our Frozen obsession has really kicked up, we’ve been scooping ice cubes from the freezer when there’s not enough snow outside and it works just as well!
Plan activities early
I’ve learned that we’re an 8am activity family. By 2pm, my energy tank is 3/4 empty and planning something for that time of the day just sets me up to feel exhausted and frustrated. Getting out early on days that I feel up to it help me feel like I’m able to be fully present during those activities – plus it helps ward off the mid-day pre-nap toddler second wind!
Call for help
This one took over ten years of living with a chronic illness and a pandemic for me to fully accept. A few months into the pandemic, the burnout I was feeling was really intense. Between the summer hear, Tim working 48-hour shifts, and being far away from my family, I was really struggling. So, I did what any adult woman in their 30’s would do – I called my mom. She came up to Boston with no hesitation to help me with the kids during my relapse and when I started my new treatment.
When the boys started swim lessons this winter, I knew I would need help again. In the past, I would’ve tried to do it myself, gotten upset that it was difficult, and eventually waved a white flag and begrudgingly accepted help. This time, I’ve asked someone to come with me each time Tim is working to be sure things go as smoothly as possible. I still don’t love that I need help with something I “should” be able to do on my own like swim lessons, but asking for help is a big step forward for me!
Thank you, as always, for listening and being here. Happy weekend, friends!
xo,
Stephanie
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