Sick Mom! What Do You Do Now?
It’s a backwards Works For Me Wednesday, which means I get to pick your brains for advice and tips today. Here’s one that I needed to ask a few weeks ago, but I’m hoping that getting some suggestions now will help me be prepared for the next time.
What do you do when mom is sick? Not sniffly, not feeling well sick. Can’t get off the couch, throwing up, barely functioning sick. How do you handle caring for your children during the day when you aren’t even able to care for yourself? It is hard enough for moms who find themselves very ill when they have children who go to school. Trying to get up early to take them, being able to go pick them up, and trying to help them get themselves around and their work done. But being home with the kids all day, alone, with no chance for a break, is it’s own kind of torture and pain.
So what do you do to get through the day when you are sick and the kids are feeling great? If they are bouncing around the house and ready to play but you can barely move past the couch what tricks do you use to keep them happy without draining yourself to empty? Let’s get a list going on here to borrow from for all of us on those sick days. I am sure there are a lot of us who have had those days so I hope the moms who have survived and lived to talk about it will share their priceless knowledge.
parenting, moms, works for me wednesday
March 5th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Arts and Crafts
TV
“Dance Contest” (just put on a CD and watch them dance)
Movie
Computer Games
Go Upstairs and Play with your Dolls
TV
Seriously, when I’m THAT sick, that little black box is my friend. And, if all else fails, call my husband or my mom and beg them to come and help. Or, wait until my neighbor’s teen daughter is home from school and beg her to take the kids out to play—pay her well.
March 5th, 2008 at 7:57 am
TV. I know… so bad right? Wrong. plenty of good stuff on TV if you look. My kids have lately decided they LOVE mythbusters, and Dirty Jobs, and How It’s Made, and Bindi the Jungle Girl (I tear up every time steve Irwin is on with his daughter.) The History channel is running Liberty Kids at 7 am every weekday. Even Dora can teach kids Spanish, and Diego is good for Spanish and animals.
Video/Computer games are a good way to not only let the kids burn off steam, but learn too. Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 is teaching my 7yr old kid about personnel managment, financial managment, park management, customer service, all kinds of things that will help him in the business world when he’s older. Other games can teach too… Want to learn more, try reading the book - Don’t bother me mom, I’m learning! by Marc Prensky. Will change your opinion of video games, or at the least help you understand more about how games can be used in the “classroom”.
March 5th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Videos or “noggin” on tv.
Let the kids stay in their pajamas all day, and let them eat just microwaved chicken nuggets for lunch… they think it’s a treat, and I don’t worry about a balanced meal for that day.
I also try to throw some soup or something else super-easy in the crockpot for supper, so that it’s ready without much effort on my part.
If I have a new coloring book or something similar stashed away for my 4 year-old, then she gets it while my 1 year-old is napping. Quiet time for everyone!
March 5th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Just yesterday I HAD to take my migraine headache to bed. I was SOOO proud of my kids (10, 8, 6 and 3)…they took care of everything. Mostly they just played…not always real quietly…but as long as hey weren’t close to me and my head, I was okay with them jumping off of things. My 10 year old made quesadillas for lunch for everyone…they brought me water…put the 3 year old down for a nap at nap time. It’s so not fun to be sick and let your kids take over the house…but I do find that they all really step up to the plate when they are in that situation. Reminds me of what sweet kids I have! (now, if I was in bed for days on end…they might not stay so sweet!)
March 5th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Hide Dad’s car keys so he can’t leave? Just a thought.
March 5th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I’m having one of those days right now. Kids are still in their pjs. TV has been on all morning. I’m curled up on the couch. Luckily my almost 4 year old can get them snacks. That’s a big help! On days like this my motto is “whatever works!”
March 5th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I got lucky yesterday when I had one of those days. Dad was home and he took care of everything!
In the past when I haven’t been so lucky I…
- Pull a new game or activity out of the closet (it helps to have a small stash of these for various reasons).
- Allow things ordinary against the rules. Strip the beds and use the blankets to make tents, eat in the living room, watch movies all day long, use paper plates and cups, skip baths, eat dessert first (or if you’re really sick serve only dessert), let all the kids in your bed or play kiddie music non-stop (doesn’t work if you’ve already got a headache).
- Put the kids in charge. Giving them each a job to do makes them feel good when Mom’s sick. Put the snacks and drinks where they can help themselves, have them fetch the the things you need or enlist the help of the older kids to keep the younger ones happy and quiet.
- Call for HELP! Most folks say that Mom’s ddon’t get sick days but it doesn’t have to be that way! Many of us know other moms who are home during the day and could help us out IF we ask them too. If you have the courage to ask for help you not only get the help you need but encourage other moms to ask for help when they need it too.
March 5th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
I remember being so tired during one pregnancy, and I had 4 kids age 4 and under… I lay on the couch and made them sit on my legs and watch TV. That way I’d know if one got up without having to open my eyes.
Now some are older and they can make peanut butter sandwiches for the littles, etc. so it is easier if Mom is down for the count. If all else fails, putting the kids in the tub while you hug the toilet is good for at least an hour of fun. Or give them a box of bandaids and encourage them to carefully open each one and doctor themselves. Then tell them to remove them.
March 6th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
After the birth of my third child, I had a breast infection that was so incredibly painful, I couldn’t move and a fever of 105. My other two children were 2 1/2 and 1 1/2. The Cartoon Network and baloney and cheese sandwiches were my best friends. I was also stuck with no phone or car and I was separated from their father.
I was (still am, more than ten years later) insanely proud of my daughter for entertaining her younger brothers and for taking care of them (and me). She was the one who woke me when they got hungry and brought stuff to me so I make sandwiches and then put everything away once we’d all eaten. She also helped when I needed to change the baby or when he fussed. I felt guilty that I needed her to do those things at such a young age, but proud that she was capable and willing to do them.