When Mama is sick with the flu...

[springmum]

(looking for parenting tips, that's why this isn't in H&H)
What are your survival tips when you have children to look after and you are sick with no extra hands to help?

I developed the flu 2 nights ago - my fever is gone now, but I'm still in rough shape.

DS who is an active 18 month old is needing more energy than I can give him right now (I'm holding off on t.v for as long as possible since he doesn't watch it regularly)

I know there are mama's out there with more than 1 little one, and who have been more sick than I am - what do you do to make it through?

My brain is very foggy, so I'm out of creative, quiet activities besides the usual colouring, toys and books.

Thanks

[Dandelionkid]

Originally Posted by springmum

(looking for parenting tips, that's why this isn't in H&H)
What are your survival tips when you have children to look after and you are sick with no extra hands to help?

I developed the flu 2 nights ago - my fever is gone now, but I'm still in rough shape.

DS who is an active 18 month old is needing more energy than I can give him right now (I'm holding off on t.v for as long as possible since he doesn't watch it regularly)

I know there are mama's out there with more than 1 little one, and who have been more sick than I am - what do you do to make it through?

My brain is very foggy, so I'm out of creative, quiet activities besides the usual colouring, toys and books.

Thanks

Movies Desperate times call for desperate measures, imo.

[NCmama]

I don't know your situation, but I have already told DH if I get sick (30 wks preggo) he is staying home for a few days so I can rest!

[kirstenb]

Originally Posted by Dandelionkid

Movies Desperate times call for desperate measures, imo.

When I was sick was the only time I didn't care if he was watching TV.

[Drummer's Wife]

Hope you feel better soon.

I am a big fan of all the instant play kid shows on Netflix.

[foreverinbluejeans]

Let them play with things you normally don't let them play with but that aren't too hard to clean up. Your pots and pans and a big wood spoon.

[Storm Bride]

Movies.
Accept that the house is a disaster area, and just try to avoid squashed blackberries on the (beige) carpet.
Your child is a bit young for it, but I also make sure my kids know that my foul temper has nothing to do with them, and is because I feel like crap. (Yes, I have a foul temper when I'm sick. *sigh*)
Remind myself - frequently - that this is temporary.

That's all I've got. It sucks. This last month has been hellish around here. DD1 was sick, briefly. I've been sick twice. DS2 was sick. DD2 was sick (meaning no sleep for me!). DS1 was slightly sick. DH, as usual, has been fine (how that man maintains the immune system he does, with some of the stuff he eats and drinks, I'll never know), which means he's doing all the work.

[widemouthedfrog]

Well, this spring I was so sick I couldn't take care of dd, so I did get my inlaws to look after her for two days. But that had never happened before. I was close to going to the hospital.

Normally, we just cancel everything, have a quiet day at home. She plays with the pets, watches a movie without guilt, and I have a stash of craft stuff at a table downstairs that she can play with. She also does a lot of independent lego play, and normally I might do chores while she's doing that. When I'm sick, I'd sit on the couch. She is four, though. When she was little, she'd play independently but I would lie on the floor beside her so I didn't need to get up and help - I was just there. I tend to be more child-centered when I am sick so that I deal with any problems and meltdowns before they arise.

For a baby or toddler, I'd do a lot of babywearing and nursing. Good for the antibodies anyway. Do you have tubs of toys that he can take out and play with? Don't worry about the mess. Some music that he can move to and you can both listen to? If you're not terribly sick but just feel yucky, a walk in the stroller might work. That way he has other things to look at, you don't need to carry him, and you don't have to feel like the entertainer.

When I'm sick, I focus on taking it easy but I also try not to make a big deal out of it (aside from resting), since I find that this makes dd more needy and less likely to play independently.

[queenjane]

I really hope i dont get sick...i *cant*, i have no one to help me or watch the kids. I have two toddlers who watch plenty of cartoons so there isnt any "special" factor there to keep them occupied. I guess i would need to enlist the help of my 13 yr old son. It really sucks when all you want to do is sleep and be miserable and instead you have to feed, diaper, and take care of little ones.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

My response goes along with a thread in TAO, about having a "Village". If I were in your situation, I would be calling in the troops to help out.. And seriously? Don't worry about TV. You need to get well. Do what it takes. A couple days is not going to impose on his learning capabilities.

[springmum]

Thanks ladies....definitely not going to feel guilty about a little t.v. now... boy will he be excited.

Definitely don't have a village available unfortunately. I managed to convince DH to come home for a few hours yesterday when I was at my worst, but that's not going to fly today.
My mum who is 1 hour away also has the flu, and other family members are too far or not available. Most friends have little ones, so I don't want to give them anything.

Thankfully he's been wanting to nurse a lot, so that's giving us some quiet time.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Originally Posted by springmum

Thanks ladies....definitely not going to feel guilty about a little t.v. now... boy will he be excited.

Definitely don't have a village available unfortunately. I managed to convince DH to come home for a few hours yesterday when I was at my worst, but that's not going to fly today.
My mum who is 1 hour away also has the flu, and other family members are too far or not available. Most friends have little ones, so I don't want to give them anything.

Thankfully he's been wanting to nurse a lot, so that's giving us some quiet time.

You poor thing. That happened to me last spring. Me and DS1 had the flu, and so did my mother, father, and sister! I was lucky enough to have inlaws to though. Hopefully you start feeling better soon.

[Tigerchild]

When I am sick, if for some reason hubby couldn't step in and take on my work as well (like because he was gone or sick as well), that's when I lift screen time restrictions. Though I claim the couch in the family room so that I have a better chance of hearing someone scream or they can rouse me when they want to eat something other than what's in the fruit bowl on the table.

When H1N1 (we think) swept our house two weeks ago, I was caught off guard over how incapacitated I was. (while the kids were running around, giggling, playing tag, and bouncing off the walls with THEIR 103 degree fevers. It's just not fair. :P) So I'm going to be doing some more training in the next few weeks to get the kids in the habit of fixing their own lunches on the weekend, ect. That way I know that as long as I stock PB and lunchmeat as I can, they'll be able to fix their own sandwiches. (they already get their own cereal and milk) I wouldn't really want them screwing around with the stove with no supervision, but I'm contemplating having my oldest practice using the microwave for very specific things. It's a below-cabinet one though, so I'm not sure. She'd have to get on a stepstool to use it and I don't know if I'm comfortable with her using a stepstool in combo with a heated up item. I might have her practice anyway for an unusual situation. That doesn't help you with babies and toddlers though.

My lovely MIL lives about 3.5 hours away. So in a real emergency, barring weather problems, we'd just have to worry about everyone for the 4 hours it would take her to travel up here, with traffic. I also have friends that could help, though most of them are MY friends so my kids aren't as familiar with them...and in the case of illness, I don't know that I'd want to expose them.

[Abarat]

For me, good parenting goes right out the window when I'm sick. I spoil DS rotten with treats, tv, movies, playing on the computer, etc.

It's way more important to me to get better quickly and that helps keep him out of my hair. Otherwise he sees I'm down and really pushes my buttons and we really get on each others' nerves.

I'm sure I'm not the greatest mom for this, but especially with something really yucky like the flu if he wants something he gets it. It's also a time I pull out things I've been saving for a "rainy day" like new workbooks, new toys to play outside with (even if it's a kitchen utensil, spoon, etc. it's new and he'll play with it for a while), etc.

You do what you have to and don't feel guilty!!!!! It's not like it'll last forever....a few days isn't going to hurt.

[ohiomama]

I wasn't aware that mamas were allowed to get sick

I'm with everyone else though...
TV
Fruit Snacks
3 baths in one day
Whatever it takes

[dantesmama]

When I'm sick, all my standards fly right out the window. I send someone to the library and have them check out a ton of kid's DVDs, I set out lots of spill-proof drinks and snacks, and I lay on the couch and let the TV babysit my kids. It's the only time I actually *want* my kids to sit quiet and motionless zoned out on a screen!

[AbbieB]

DH came down with the flu (we think) Friday.
The kids got sick Tuesday and then Wednesday night.
I got sick Thursday night.

I made a huge pot of chicken soup Saturday, figuring we were going to need it. The kids and I started vit.c. I took some other stuff. I encouraged the kids to be outside in the sunlight a bit each day.

As soon as DD said she felt bad I blew up our queen sized air mattress and made a comfy camp corner in the living room. That way anyone that needs one can take a nap and still be close to Mommy. I feel pretty good napping there during the day if I need too.

I keep fruit and cut up veggies, crackers, sandwich fixings, yogurt, etc... ready to go for anyone that needs it. DD can fill and close sippy/spill proof cups for herself and her brother.

We have been watching movies non stop this week. The kids have done a lot of block building and drawing. It seems like someone has been in the tub/shower at least every 2 hours.

[BellaClaudia]

desperate time calls for desperate measures: or.. things
that I would never recommend to you if you were not sick

1. order food online. have it delivered to the house if you live in us and in delivery area.

2. get tons of disposable paper plates and cups and utensilsf or everybody to use.

3. boil huge pot of chicken broth - you won't be able to eat anything just drink and so having your own organic chicken broth made of one chicken, carrot and celery and onion replenish your electrolites in the body.

3. make other pot of macaroni and cheese for little ones and freeze or refrigerate the rest.

4. order pizza whenever possible.. or any other food for kids.

5. call neighbors for help to pick up any food for kids from any place...
even macdonalds.. I know.. I know.. but then again.. you have to think..survival.. and it is only a week...
they will do it, offer the same once they will get sick and they will.

6. boil huge pot of a raspberry drink: one bag of frozen raspberries, or one container of fresh ones.. and a gallon or so water.. boil. cool.. add sugar if you wish and drink as much as you can.. very refreshing and super healthy and raspberries works miracles for flu.

7. MOVIES. MOVIES. MOVIES to keep kids busy.
if you can't have someone to go and pick up tons of blockbuster dvds
then order online immadiately, I had account openned for one month
only and I had 4 at the time.. deal, then closed it once got better.
Netflix will let you watch many kids movies online too..
and that is fab. but youc an watch them only on computer.

if that fails.. if you have cable.. upgrade for one month
so you can do pay per views or something for kids.. to keep them busy.

other then that ask someone to buy cheep coloring books and
activities from a dollar store.. give them age and prefferences..
of kids.. kdis need new things and they are busy if they have
something different and new to explore.

ask someone to bring you tons of library books.
I had my husband go to the library and he brought home
max of our acc allowance.. 50 books.. that keeps them busy too..
just the amount is enough :-) to mesmerize.

ask your husband to take few days off.. anything..
sick, vacation.. even unpaid..

it is about your survival and your family
YOU NEED FULL 7 days recovery in bed and indoors
or you might get secondary infection. that is serious.

of course if this can be done..

if not try to get someone
who can do some errounds for you without coming home
as people won't do that.. but even buying something and bringing
is great help. as stated above.

play guessing games with little ones form the bed..

what is it.. or what is bigger or.. name your favorite princess.
or wich movie character did what..

Good luck and God bless you.
Get well soon.

[Krisis]

One thing I keep in mind is my fellow church members. If I am sick I can call a couple of people and they'll arrange for meals and sometimes ask if I need childcare.

TV is also my best friend when I am sick - Signing Time rocks! My last resort is asking DH to come home, but even if I don't ask him to come home early, once he is home from work he gets the beastie and I get to rest uninterrupted for the night.

[Daisie125]

I agree with the PP - whatever it takes to keep everyone alive and out of my hair. The kids LOVE it when I'm sick