injured with no car and 2 young children

Hi everyone, I am stuck on what to do any ideas would be greatly appreciated! I tore a muscle in my leg 2 weeks ago so I'm on crutches, using the muscle could risk tearing it even more, I can't even carry my 2 year old (can't actually carry anything with crutches!)

To make things worse my car didn't pass the warrant of fitness it will cost $900 which I don't have to get it road worthy. I am a single mother, I study part time and dance part time, I have a 2 year old and a 6 year old.

What I'm stuck on is that without a car I'm actually stuck at home, I can't walk I need crutches to get around. I can't walk on crutches and push a pram. I can't carry a 2 year old, a pram and hobble on crutches on a bus. I really don't know what to do! My poor boys are getting cabin fever not being able to go out, I had to cancel our xmas holiday because there is no way I was going to manage that with this injury!

My mum has been wonderful but she lives about an hour drive from me and I can't rely on her to come and get me to get groceries, take the kids out etc. Especially when she's back at work.

Has anyone been in or known anyone in a situation like this? I tried work and income, they won't lend me that much money to repair my car, ACC only pay for transport to treatments (it's not definite I will get that but I can apply) I can't work because I'm a dancer. I need my leg to get better so I can go back to normal but I can't stay locked up at home for a few more months!

Thanks for listening :)

oh no!!  Hopefully Two boys is right and ACC can sort out a nanny for you in the meantime, thats a long time to be stuck at home with 2 little ones!

Definatly ring acc again, i fell and broke my arm in september and damaged all the nerves because the baby capsule fell on it. Charlie was 10 weeks at that point and Emily was 18months. Acc gave us 2 hours a day for child care and 2 for house duties. Hubby is a truck driver who works 12 hour shifts, They sent around an ocupational therapist who assesed us and also offered things like a chopping board that i could stab the food onto the cut so it didnt move. They did ask alot of questions about friends and family that maybe able to help but my inlaws both work full time and my parents are quite abit older and both sick.

I have found that it dose depend alot on who you get as a case manager though, the first one i had was fantastic the 2nd not so much and the guy i have now is brilliant.

Would your two year old walk with you on a leading rein harness thing?

jaz wrote: It depends on how good your 2 year old is at holding hands for walks and not running away but is there a park or playground nearby that you could walk to? If you take a picnic in a backpack your arms are free for your crutches and you can make a few hours of it. Your two year old could hold hands with your older one while crossing roads. Alternatively you could use just one crutch on the bad side and hold his hand while crossing a road (I had a month on crutches last year with a 2.5 yo and its doable). If its going to take awhile until you are off crutches then those backpack/reigns are fantastic.

I've been taking the boys for little walks around the neighbourhood to get them out, they love it! I wouldn't go much further, my 2 year old is a very spirited young man haha, I tried getting my 5 year old to hold his hand crossing the road but he decided to have a little tantrum in the middle of the crossing, trying to run back to the other side, thankfully the cars waited patiently until I had him back!

Get in touch with ACC asap as they should be able to do a lot for you. I had a broken foot with 3 preschoolers (and married, but he had to work) and ended up with 50 hours/week of home help because of being on crutches. My littlest at the time was just 10 weeks old so perhaps you won't get quite as much but you should still get much more help than currently. You can also borrow stools for the shower/kitchen, etc.

In my case they referred me for it the day I broke my elbow (the hospital that is) and then as it was a saturday I didn't hear anything till the Monday. They spoke to an occupational therapist who had told them there was no way I could care for two children with my injury. But then I couldn't cook, dress them, pick them up and so on and one was only 10 months so maybe that made the difference.

I am an occupational therapist who used to do these assessments. Keep phoning and tell them you are really struggling, and would like to be assessed. Your OT will be able to tell you what you are eligible for. ACC always try not to pay out for anything so you may have to keep on at them a bit.

Can you get shopping online?