As school is now officially in session, we all have likely had or currently have our first lovely cold, flu, infection or virus. If you have maintained healthy thus far, we will miss you next week once you finally catch something (just kidding, but really). If you truly are healthy so far, please grace us with your secret to a super power immune system. For the rest of us mere mortals, here are some tips and tricks on how to make it through the upcoming bugs and sniffles of the school year.
- Surrender. First, do all the things. Wash your hands for the length of time it takes to sing happy birthday or the chorus of Africa by Toto (you’re welcome… nothing cuter than a kiddo jamming out while washing hands). Avoid licking door knobs. Take your vitamins. Then, get sick anyway. It is bound to happen. Control what you can, take precautions, and accept that it will still happen. While we all still need to do our part to keep ourselves and others healthy, germs are mighty little mutants who our children are excellent at finding. The only thing worse than getting sick, is dreading it and then getting upset about it. When it happens, surrender. Save your energy towards healing, not being upset it happened. Give yourself grace. Give your kids grace and compassion. This is part of being human and being around children in a post pandemic world.
- Advocate. Sometimes those little sicknesses become something not so little. Sometimes the front desk at the doctor’s office tells you their next appointment is in 4 months from now and it’s probably a virus. Sometimes your boss tells you it’s probably nothing, don’t take a sick day over a low grade fever. Sometimes, it is time to listen to your intuition both for yourself and your littles. Listen to your body, and theirs. Give it what it needs. If something isn’t feeling right, look into it, question it, advocate. You know yourself and your child best. Do your research (note I said research, not go down a google worm hole at 2am). Be their voice if and when needed. Model for them how to care for themselves when sick and get the care they need whether that means advocating for the doctor to run another test or spend another day “reading educational books” (pssst…that is real talk code for watching tv) on the couch.
- Respect and protect. This is an easy one when it comes to our own children… but the lines get blurry out in the wild. Sometimes yes, it is just a cold or virus to you, but remember in the world of kiddos there may be pregnant parents, newborns, elderly grandparents or immunocompromised individuals in which it is never “just a cold or a virus”. There are people out there we need to keep in mind when our families are sick. It might be worth the $9 same day delivery fee from target instead of packing up your sweet little snot bubble for a trip out before their fever has been gone for an appropriate amount of time. There are few things truly urgent enough that can’t wait. It isn’t easy. It is okay to be frustrated and impatient from your cabin fever, but along the lines of surrender and advocate, don’t fight against taking time to rest and heal. If you need help caring for yourself or your little, reach out and ask your friends at WFP. If you get a group text that someone can’t attend class this week because they are sick, text them on the side and offer to drop off groceries. We are all in this together. Also…shameless plug…. do NOT attend preschool when you or your child is sick! Seriously…don’t do it. If you are questioning it… just take a pass that week.
- This too shall pass. This is a season. A season of having young kiddos who need to get sick to develop their immune systems. A season of germs. Although it may feel like it, this won’t be forever. The more you follow the above steps, the quicker your families health will recover and you can get back to your regular routine of going out and finding germs, I mean attending work and school. Take it day by day, one day at a time, one sickness at a time. This too shall pass.
- Guilt be gone! Finally, getting sick isn’t your fault or your kid’s fault. It is the fault of the person who didn’t follow number 3 (just kidding of course, but really, don’t be that person). When your family gets under the weather, it isn’t helpful to feel guilty about the things you can’t do. I promise, they will get done eventually. Also, it isn’t very helpful to feel guilty about resting, snuggling on the couch, ordering door dash, going to bed early, or living off saltines and ginger ale for a few days. It is okay to not be your best self all the time. It is okay to just survive. It is okay to surrender to having a sick kiddo in your arms 24/7. It is okay to miss things. It happens. Make the best of it. You can push through, feel awful physically and emotionally and extend the time it takes the body to heal… or you can build a pillow fort in the living room, turn on a paw patrol marathon, and enjoy a break from the world with your kiddo. You are allowed a sick day from life, and so is your child. Embrace it.