We recommend that you have another adult in the house as you recover to undertake regular household tasks such as laundry, childcare and shopping. Lifting heavy groceries, picking up children (with flailing limbs and unpredictable movements) and doing household chores may be too much during the initial period of healing. You’ll soon know when it’s safe to go about regular family life because your body will tell you – it won’t hurt or feel tender – and Dr Rich will let you know what you can and can’t do and for how long. Take it easy and stick with bedtime stories until you’ve had the all-clear for more strenuous activities.