The first time you have to care for a sick baby is incredibly stressful. Rumer Willis took to social media to reflect on what she learned after she and her 5-month-old daughter Louetta were struck down with the flu. Since the birth of Louetta, Rumer has been using social media to document her journey through early motherhood, so a post like this comes as no surprise. But even though she was initially talking about the fear that comes along with caring for a sick infant, her post really delves into the struggle many mothers have when it comes to asking for help.
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This is the first time Rumer has had to care for a sick child while sick herself.
Rumer shared an Instagram reel to give additional insight into what other things she had learned during their bout of sickness. She described it as "this moment where it was almost healing in this way of being able to look at all of those times in the past, where maybe, anxiety, or panic or something has come up."
She also gave herself credit for "allowing myself to really see what I was capable of because I was also really trying to let her body fight whatever it was fighting."
She admitted that, in these moments, she still calls her own mom when she needs her.
"Thankfully, it was only really one bad evening, but I was sitting there, I think it was maybe midnight and I'm holding her in the bath. I remember this moment of just feeling like I'm her whole world. I am her safe place. And I'm who she's going to call whenever she doesn't feel good, just like I still call my mother," she continued.
There's no doubt that mom Demi Moore is happy to answer the call of duty, even though her little girl is all grown up — just like Rumer is doing for her own daughter now.
Rumer shared an important reminder for all moms.
In the end, she revealed that she ended up reaching out to another mom friend to get some ideas on ways to make Lou feel better, and how asking for help is a skill that moms need to practice.
"I wanted to really highlight how I found strength within myself, was also being vulnerable enough to ask for help and to find resources to help me care for myself so I could care for my daughter,” she said. "I think it's unbelievably important that we create community, and we allow ourselves the space to ask for that help."
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She shared a similar sentiment in another post.
"The flu took both my Lou and me simultaneously, and it brought not just symptoms but moments of doubt. Could I manage taking care of her and myself in this weakened state?" she wrote.
"As a parent, you sometimes question your abilities, but that week, as the flu raged on, it became clear that I was more capable than I ever thought. That I could be her safe place and I could hold the container for both of us."
Rumer also shared the importance of grace.
She opened up about how having to navigate having a sick baby while also being sick gave her more confidence in herself, sharing that she is "so grateful for the moments that push me and challenge me and show me how much stronger I am than ever I thought I was."
"I also realized the importance of giving myself grace. As we all should as mothers," she added.
