Mom Talk

 I think I officially have the flu. At least that’s what my online search of symptoms turned up. Fever, chills, body aches, stuffy nose, cough, stomach issues. . .I’m officially in yuckville. Some friends of ours were nice enough to come get my daughter today so I could get some rest, but yesterday I had to get through it on my own. Here are some tips I’ve come up with to survive the flu with an energetic 4-year-old around.

-Find something she can do in the same room while you sit and do nothing. For us, that meant watching a movie in the playroom while I rested in her bed (the rooms are basically one). She also played with a nativity scene she’s fond of in the floor of the living room while I nodded in the recliner.

-Let your house be the disaster it wants to be. As long as she wasn’t starting a fire or at risk of injury, I have pretty much let her do what she wants. The cushions to my couch are in the middle of the floor and there is laundry everywhere. I’m just not gonna get upset about it.

-Let her fend for herself if she can. Our rule of thumb for the last several days has been, “if it sounds good to you, eat it.” She’s eaten fruit snacks, string cheese, tortilla chips and dry cereal from the box. I have managed to drag myself to the kitchen to pour her a glass of milk or sugar-free Kool-aid. We’ve taught her to use the water dispenser on the fridge and that’s been a life saver.

-Take snuggle time when you can get it. She wanted to nap with me yesterday and I took advantage of it. I’m trying not to expose her to my germs but it’s probably inevitable. I just wash my hands a lot and try to stay out of her face. Beyond that, I hope for the best and prepare myself for the fact that she may be sick on Christmas.

I have nothing profound to offer, just survival tips based on my experience. I’m sure all you veteran moms out there have some time tested tips for us. Feel free to leave a comment to enrich us with your wisdom!

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