We have a heavy winter cold going through the house all down the line, from oldest to youngest. So Reiki and Calpol for the kids, and Reiki and a few sleepless nights for mammy and daddy – inevitably one or more of the children are woken by their symptoms in the hours when they would normally be sleeping. These things run their course and everything will be back to normal before long.
So for me, today, the Four of Swords in its reversed aspect is saying, “You need to rest and recuperate. That should be challenging.” When one has a crucial commitment to the care of others, such as a parent has, I think one has a natural tendency to put everyone else’s needs first. Of course they need your care, but you should also find space for self care.
If the kids want to watch a little more children’s television than usual, let them. Maybe you can sit down with them a little more than usual. If a friend or family member offers to help say “yes”. You don’t have to do it all yourself, even if it looks that way in your head. They might even let you sneak off to the bedroom for an hour or so. (Don’t spend it thinking you should be doing something else.) If they don’t think of offering, ask them. You’d do it for them, you know you would, so take the help and take a break. You deserve it.
In a related post, here are some thoughts I had on Reiki and Caplol.