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Pre-School and Daycare
Monsieur_et_Madame_Ha
member
DH is having suregery this week - How to prep my 3yo?
Monsieur_et_Madame_Ha
member
Hey ladies - I mostly lurk on this board, with the occasional comment here and there, but I have a bit of an issue and I think you may be able to offer some insight.
DH is having surgery for an inguinal hernia on Tuesday. It's a fairly minor surgery - he comes home the same day - but he'll be off work for one to three weeks, so we know he'll need to take it easy, to say the least.
I know they can do quieter activities, but that's really something she likes to do with me - with her dad, she likes to do tickle fights and that sort of things.
I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions/if there's anything I can tell DD to help her understand why her dad won't be able to play with her so much for a while. Right now, she knows Daddy has an "owie" and will be going to the Doctor's on Tuesday, but that's it.
TIA for your input!
Farewell, nesticle, you will be missed
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Re: DH is having suregery this week - How to prep my 3yo?
My DH just had surgery on his foot a few weeks ago and is still recovering. The first few days we really just had to set some ground rules. Where Daddy is, there is no playing or being loud. If you want to be by Daddy, you need to be quiet and DO NOT TOUCH HIS FOOT!
We just explained to our LOs that dad has an owie and has to take medicine that makes him tired and a little sick so Dad's not feeling good. They caught on pretty quick and really did amazing.
But the big thing for us was repeating what the rules were and just explaining that Dad was not going to be feeling good and they needed to be nice to daddy and play quietly or go in the other room.
'Til He returns, or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I stand.
Get DH some kind of bandage or something as a visual reminder. They are so impulsive and have big love that they forget. Some sort of bandage that he wears all the time- especially when he starts feeling better will help her slow down. I tore 2 ligaments in my hand and the kids were great as long as I had the cast on. Then I went to a splint, then a glove "stabilizer." I just lost that and my 3 yr olds forget sometimes that I still need gentle touch. That visual cue made a huge difference.
I tend to over-inform and I showed them my xrays and mri images (I can't believe they put them on a CD a nd just hand them to you- so cool!!!) and explained exactly why my hand was in a cast. Maybe take one of her dolls and show her where Daddy is hurt on the doll and have her wrap it witih an ace bandage?
Of course stress that he needs to rest because he is healing, and he is not sick or getting worse.