A big thank you to Pfizer Consumer Healthcare for providing us with the video and gift card to make this post possible. All thoughts, opinions & sick kids are 100% my own.
We just got done not too long ago, with a week long stretch of illnesses around our house.
I’m talking all kinds of sick. Both ends. You name it, we covered it.
We stayed home home for 7 days straight. Imagine what my house looked like people. Please tell me you’ve been there too?
Despite really wanting my life and my house to get back to normal, what I really want most when my kids get sick is for them to just feel better. To get back to being their happy, smiley, boisterous, selves.
It’s taken me a while to get to this point, but after three kids and plenty of sick days, I have finally achieved the capacity to allow myself to drop everything and simply let it all go when they are sick. Really when three kids are sick what else can you do anyway?
Now I know it’s not always that bad. Sometimes a popsicle and a little extra TLC is all that’s required. But they are times, like the aforementioned, when everyone is down and out, that call for drastic measures.
As part of their Sick just got real. ™ campaign, the pediatric brands of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare have released a video depicting a small glimpse of what moms may feel and experience when their children are under the weather. I watched it and immediately could relate. In fact it’s what got me thinking about what gets me through when my kids are sick. Take a look and see what you think. Then read on for some essential tips for surviving with sick kids. Oh, and there’s a giveaway too!
So, how can you survive when your kids get sick?
With these…
Essential Tips for Surviving with Sick Kids!
- Take a cue from one of your kids’ favorite songs and…. Let it Go. Let the dishes go. Let the cooking go. Have hubby pick up dinner on the way home from work. You get the idea. Don’t panic. It won’t last. Focus on the extra hugs and snuggles that your children need. The benefit? Likely less whining on their part because you will be right there with them. The laundry pile will definitely not go anywhere and life will return to normal eventually.
- Take Care of Yourself! This is essential! It would be really great if you could survive whatever bug is making it’s way through your house without getting sick yourself. For me that means plopping the kids down with a movie so I can take a shower. Extra Vitamin C and extra healthy eating, lots of whole foods and extra green smoothies, to try to prevent the bug from overtaking me too.
- Wash Your Hands, like a bazillion times. It’s truly one of the best ways to assure you don’t spread germs.
- Ask for Help. If there’s anyone actually brave enough to jump into the ring with you don’t be afraid to ask them for help. My mother unfortunately lives three hours away but I know if she was closer she’d help in a heartbeat. Need a neighbor to run to the store for you? Ask. Hubby to stop on his way home from work? Ask.
- Sleep. They need it & you need it! When we are sick we need to sleep to allow our bodies to heal and we also need adequate sleep to make sure our bodies are strong enough to fight whatever comes our way. These are the days to turn in early, snuggle up and get some shut eye. Resist the temptation to stay up late after the kids go to bed playing catch up. (See Tip no. 1). Not only that, but I promise you, their demands will seem less demanding if you are well rested.
- When the fevers are gone and the puking is over, Venture Out Slowly. Get out of the house, get a little perspective and a little fresh air. Things won’t look quite so bad when you return and you may be reenergized enough to tackle all the housework that fell by the wayside while everyone was ill.
Rest assured, eventually this to shall pass. And as your kiddos start to feel better, and after a long day (or two) of cleaning, life, and your house, will return to normal.
Wait. Don’t go. There’s more…
A Giveaway! UPDATE: giveaway is now closed
Pfizer Consumer Healthcare is providing one lucky winner with a $25.00 Visa Giftcard. Enter using the rafflecopter widget below. One winner will be chosen at random when the giveaway closes on May 3, 2015. Open to U.S residents only.
Good luck!
My kids take advil and rest.
I survive by having my husband help me, and by taking some time for myself by taking a break when my kids get sick. My husband is a godsend when the kids get sick.
When kids get sick I try to keep them entertained with their favorite books and movies
I try and get help and take a small break away for myself.
We rent a bunch of movies to keep my daughter occupied when she is sick.
I used to take care of my every weekend and sometimes during week nights. I had the tiniest barely 2 room apartment, one time she was sick with vomiting all weekend. It was hard to not throw up myself! I had to open a window every now and then and just gulp some air for survival!
We try to rest a lot and watch movies.
We hunker down, I make homemade chicken noodle soup and we we rest, read, watch films, and cuddle a lot 🙂
I survive by letting them get extra rest, and giving them soup, juice and vitamins.
I survive when my son gets sick by having all the necessity on hand at all times just in case he does get sick. I hate him being sick and me going to my trusty first aid kit and not having the fever meds, cough meds and the like and having to drag him out of the house to buy his stuff.
When my kids gets sick I make sure they get plenty of rest, keep movies they love nearby, and wine in the fridge for myself. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
Erin
I survive with Netflix and help from grandma and dad 🙂
Normally when my little ones get sick, I get sick, too. So chicken noodle soup and some cozy feel good family movies are the way we recover in my house – together.
As much rest as possible and lots of fluids.
And Netflix streaming of course!
thank you
Eat soup, drink plenty of fluids and relax.
Lots of fluids and cartoon network.
Oh we try to stay down in bed as much as possible, drink lots of fluids, and get the humidifier going! I always keep a sick box on hand for the kids ….and when they are sick…I have movies or books that I got on sale or at a garage sale. Its nice to have a movie they have not seen for them to watch while laying down.
By trying to have a stress free environment of a comfortable place to rest, lots of water or Gatorade and I have some fun little gel animal ice packs that work great.
I survive by talking to my best friend as she has been through it already.
My children were sick a lot this past winter and the thing that helped me was calling my sister and parents. Phone calls with my family always cheers me up and my kids!
When my kids are sick, it’s lots of soup, some meds, love and help from my husband as soon as he arrives home.
I survive by trying to stay positive and not worrying about the little things that need to be done around the house. I focus on my grandsons when they’re sick and try everything I can to make them feel better.
I survive by giving them meds and making sure they get enough sleep
I just try to stay hydrated and rest up!
We get lots of rest.
I survive when my kiddo is sick by stocking up on chicken noodle soup, tissues, and we rent some new movies to watch!