caring for children

So how do yall manage parental responsibilities of shopping for food & cooking or birthday parties in your new life ?

What do you tell young children? My older child knows details of the procedure, but the younger blabber mouth needs an edited version. Right now he know I'm going to the doc for my "guts".

My children's friends sometimes give me power hugs - how long after surgery am I going to need to stop them?

I would say something like "I'm having an operation on my tummy so I will get healthy."

I would handle the responsibilities of food shopping and cooking the way any parent does - buy healthy, yummy food and cook it.

I am 8 days out, today. The day I came home from the hospital I made it clear to my family that I did NOT want them hiding from me when they ate. My feelings, I need to get used to it. My only stipulation was to not 'cook' in the house until my extreme nausea wore off, which luckily was gone in a day. After that, I was cooking breakfast and dinner for my guys, packing lunches and sitting at the table with them sipping. Tomorrow I make my first trip to the grocery store. But I am dragging my hubby along with me because I am strongly craving, of all things, an avocado. This could get ugly! haha

My boys both know the gist of what I had done and my youngest is 10. I would suggest maybe speaking to their friends, or parents. And depending on the ages is how to address the obvious concerns. It will all work itself out! :) 

My children are 4, 7, and 15 so I had to customize the conversation for each of them at their individual levels. I explained more to the 2 younger ones how I was going to have surgery on my tummy to help me get healthy and that they would make cuts and that it would hurt so no hugging my tummy or getting on me until I was all better. I also explained to them I would not be eating the food they were eating. My 4 yr old says no crunchy just soft. :) They have all done really well. You may have to remind them, but they will be okay. I haven't had to cook food yet since I am only a week out and just trying to heal and get my fluids down. I have only prepared quick and small things for them for a snack or lunch or something. Some smells really make me nauseous still but I don't have them hide or stay away from me. I hope to be able to be at the table with them like burghblonde very soon. Good luck!