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How To Make It Through The Day As A Sick Mom

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Do you ever want to call in sick?  How do you take care of your children when you’re sick? I know how hard it is to be a sick mom, so I am here to give you some tips to get through it.

Parenting can be super hard when mom is sick! Check out these tips about what to do when mom gets sick. #sick #mom #tips #parenting

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The other day I got to thinking about the days when my babies were home with me and how awful it was to be sick with little ones home.

You are getting up at all hours of night with your baby… when all you want to do is take a very large dose of NyQuil and sleep!

During the day you have to find the energy to play and be fun, nice mommy all day …but really, your head is pounding, your throat hurts and you just want someone to love on you for a change!

Believe me, I know that being a sick mom is awful. Because as a mom, you don’t have the luxury to call in sick!

Mom taking medicine to get through a sick day with kids at home.  #sickday #mom #selfcare

How To ‘Mom’ When Mom Is Sick

Here are my tips for you to keep on momming even though you feel like you have been hit by a dump truck going 90 miles per hour on the highway. I truly hope these tips help you get through your day!

Tip 1:  Take medicine

I know a lot of people don’t want to take medicine because maybe it makes you feel funny or foggy …or you just don’t like taking over the counter meds. 

But since you can’t call in sick, if you want to make it through the day, then you just gotta do what you gotta do!

Sudafed Pain and Pressur or another decongestant for the congestion, an antihistamine for the sneezing and runny nose.  Advil for the aches and pains.  Get it into your system and get it in there early!

Another great thing to try is a nose spray like Nasocort or Flonase.  Or if you like the more natural side of things, try a Neti Pot or a saline nose spray. 

Nose sprays will help reduce the swelling in your sinuses so you don’t have as much pressure up there.

Tip 2:  Make sure you have help

At night, you may normally be the one getting up with the kids if dad works.  But guess what, this one time, dad can help out.  The more sleep you get the faster you will get over this illness.  And then he will be off the hook again!

If you truly need a ‘sick mom day’ and dad can’t help out, then try asking a friend or family member for some help one or two days that week. That way, you can rest and recover. 

Take advantage of electronics when you are home sick with the kids.

Tip 3:  Take advantage of Electronics!

I know everybody wants to keep their kids away from electronics.  Heck, I do too.  It is seriously an addiction my kids have!

But when you are sick, electronics may be the closest you come to calling in sick!  Electronics can be your BEST friend!  Find something they love to watch, listen to, or play… give them a snack they can’t choke on and a sippy cup (these are my favorite) filled with anything to keep them happy. 

Tell them they cannot leave the room.  Then tune out for a little while, while they are occupied!  You don’t have to be the perfect mom all the time!

(And if you kiddos are really little, you may want to figure out a way to corral them before you rest ;).

Tip 4:  Keep Your Phone Close

Just in case of an emergency, keep your phone close to you.  That way if something happens with your kids or with you, you will be able to call someone without walking across the house!

Tip 5:  When You Are Up, Make It Count!

When you are sick, whether it is with a fever or you just are sick and don’t want to get off the couch,  you need to make every movement count! 

Ask the kids if they need anything while you are up… and tell them that once you are laying down again, that you will not get back up to get them anything.

When you are home sick with your kids, let all the other chores in the house go for a few days.

Tip 6:  Just let it go!

Seriously, let everything go for a while. 

I know you still have to take care of your kids when you are sick, but everything else can most certainly wait. 

You do not need to clean up, cook dinner, do laundry, or run errands when you are sick!  Just rest!  Then you can get back to normal as soon as you feel better.

Find a drink that helps your throat to get through a sick day with your kids.

Tip 7:  Figure Out What Helps

I know that when I get a sore throat I like to drink hot tea with honey in it. 

And since I don’t like drinking caffeine in the afternoon, I will switch over to hot water and honey. 

Either way, the honey always seems to help my throat.

BUT, my kids are nothing like me!  Go figure!

My daughter likes drinks with ice when she has a sore throat and my son likes just plain old hot water all day long.

The point?  Figure out what can help you get through the day.  Oh and gargling with salt water works for a lot of people, so maybe try that too!

Tip 8:  Try Out Some Herbal Remedies or Vitamins

Echinacea, Zinc, Vitamin C, and Elderberry can all help you when you have a cold. They can also help BEFORE you have a cold.

Zinc especially is known for it’s ability to disrupt the genetic material in certain cold viruses if it is taken at the very beginning of the cold.

I also give my kids Elderberry and vitamin C supplements when I or my husband are sick in hopes that they won’t get it…and vice versa.

Something to Try:

Elderberry is supposed to be great for strep prevention.  We love Zarabees brand because it tastes great, and it also includes Zinc and some other great vitamins and minerals to help fight off illness. It comes as gummies for the kids and they like the flavors. 

Here are my favorite illness supplements:

Tip 9:  Stay Hydrated

Make sure you keep sipping on liquid all day long.  That will keep all of that congestion flowing out of your body instead of hanging out in your head and chest longer!  Which could actually lead to a worse problem…a sinus infection!

Tip 10:  Run a humidifier

A humidifier is essential in your home during the winter.  I know when I am sick, I always run a humidifier in my room.  Same if my kids are sick.  It helps a great deal to keep lips from getting chapped, and your throat getting dried out in the middle of the night. 

I like the cool mist humidifiers (this is my favorite one…I have 2 of them!) because they don’t seem to get gross as fast.

Click Here To Buy A Cool Mist Humidifier

Tip 11: See the Doctor

If you are feeling really bad and don’t seem to be getting better, then it is time to call or go see the doctor. 

The doctor may be able to give you an antibiotic, or steriod for whatever you are experiencing.  If you have the flu, they can give you some Tamiflu to hopefully help speed recovery.

Order food for your family when you are feeling sick.

Tip 12:  Order Food

Remember, you are taking it easy, so either call dad to pick something up on the way home or call in a pizza.  Either way, you need your rest, so do something simple!

Tip 13:  Teaching time

I realize that teaching your kids when you are a sick mom is the last thing you want to think about. But teaching your children how to treat someone who is sick can teach them how to be empathetic and compassionate.

Explain to them that mommy is sick and she needs their help and love today to get through it.  Then when your kids are sick they will know that you are showing them the same love.

I hope these tips help you out the next time you get sick and have those little ones running around!

Julie

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