You Can Keep Your Plague, Thank You Very Much
You know that itchy, scratchy, not-quite-right feeling you get right before The Plague grabs hold of your senses and renders you useless for a few days? Me too!
Except that I don’t usually get The Plague. It’s really a very rare occurrence that I get sick at all.
It’s true. I can write about the fact that I almost never get sick and karma will not instantly shut me down with the flu or a hacking cough or whatever. I get that day of “GAH! I think I’m getting sick!” but I don’t actually get sick.
Neither does Alexis. I mean, she does get sick, but not nearly as often as other kids her age. So far in her two years of being school-aged, she has missed half a day of school because of illness. As the person who was responsible from peeling her off of the ceiling that day, I can tell you that she really wasn’t all that sick. I think she had that “I’m getting ill” feeling and didn’t know how to accurately describe it.
I’m willing to guess that it’s about 50% genetics that keeps us from becoming victims of whatever plague is going around, but I think there are things that we do in our day-to-day lives that help keep The Sicks at bay. If I had to put together a list of ways to avoid The Plague, here’s what I would say:
- Hands off, bugger off. I actually say that to Alexis sometimes. Hands are to stay away from faces, especially during cough and cold season. Keeping the little buggers away from your ears, nose, and mouth seriously does seem to help prevent sickness.
- Healthy foods, ahoy! Go eat three cupcakes. Tomorrow, eat three bananas. Tell me which day you feel better. We eat junk at my house, but in moderation.
- Catch your cough. We “catch coughs” in the crook of our elbow, not with our hands. That means the germs don’t end up on our hands, so we don’t pass them on to one another as easily. Also, a certain 7-year old has been known to fuss at other people to catch their coughs.
- A little dirt never hurt. Look, I know it’s good to sanitize and use anti-bacterial things, but we don’t get carried away at our house. We look like we live with two cats and two dogs, not with a team of maids. I truly think that it helps build a little immunity when your home environment isn’t perfect.
- Washa washa. That thing about a little dirt not hurting doesn’t mean the people in my house get to walk around with dirty hands. We wash hands before touching food, after using the bathroom, after touching anything questionable, and sometimes even more often. It’s not a frequency thing so much as it is a quality thing, though. Alexis was taught the proper way to wash her hands early on (hands slanted downward under the water, vigorous rubbing, warm water for at least 30 seconds, etc.).
I’m sure there are other things we do, but those are the main ones.
And now for the confessional part of this post – Alexis has a wicked cough right now. She’s practicing catching that cough entirely too much and it’s because some crud has settled into her lungs. She says doesn’t feel sick (she certainly hasn’t slowed down), but she has some stuff in there that needs to come out. We had a long talk about the fact that she has “snot in her lungs” and that she needs to cough so that it comes out, but we’re managing that process with a little help from our friends. To battle the crud, we’ve been using Children's Mucinex. It’s breaking down the “snot” (sorry, but she keeps calling it that instead of “mucus” so now I am, too). We are careful to follow the directions exactly, but it’s formulated especially for kids, so I’m comfortable giving it to her.
Mucinex and BlogHer have teamed up for a series about surviving cold and flu season and I will be participating all along the way. Next up, I’ll be revealing the secrets to keeping an Alexis happy when she is sick. Given that she’s really very bad at the whole sick thing, it is a bit of a challenge.
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Before I reveal my secrets, though, what are yours? What things do you do with your kids to keep everyone sane when they are sick? Or, if you don’t have kids, how do you stay sane when down and out with The Plague? Answer in the comments for a chance to win a $100 CVS gift card.
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You may receive 1 total entry by leaving a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 2/6/2013 - 3/31/2013.
Be sure to visit the Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Reader Comments (173)
As the mom to 3 (4 if you count my hubs) kiddos
If the 18yr old is sick he holes himself.up in his room and I make sure he has everything.he needs and I'm.within earshot if he needs me
Typically the same with the 15yr old..he usually sleeps the day away
But my 9yr old...she still wants cuddles so we vege out on the couch and watch Netflix and I make broth let her drink ginger ale out of a "fancy" glass
They play with the ipods and I get them their favorite frozen yogurt
My kids just like to stay in bed and watch their favorite cartoons or play on the ipad.
I let my kids relax, watch movies, play video games when sick, but sneak in their homework during the day.
We usually cuddle on the couch and watch movies together.
watch lots of shows on netflix and read lots of books
kport207 at gmail dot com
I don't have kids but when I feel crummy I take long hot,showers and guzzle hot tea!
blue65829 at all dot com
My kids are grown, but I used to amuse them with games,videos and books
I'm lucky in that my daughter has not been sick in many years. When she doesn't feel well, I offer to let her have whatever she wants when it comes to TV, snacks, drinks. It's a rare treat so anything goes.
Hot chicken soup and old favorite cartoon videos
I stay sane by staying connected (internet) - I can reach out to friends if I'm about to crack
They get to lay on the sofa downstairs, drink all the sprite or gingerale they want and watch whatever they want on tv. play games or talk on the phone
I encourage them to sleep. I find that lots of rest always helps keep everyone feeling better.
My mom makes a spray that contains various essential oils and herbs that are said to keep the plague away. We apply it externally in hopes that it cuts down the likelihood of getting sick. It seems to work.
Watch a comedy, anything that will make you laugh and forget the blahs.
Cartoons and movies.
I try to ease their feelings and make them comfortable, get them whatever they need, and let them watch tv or play video games just so they can 'relax'.
Lots of Disney movies
I indulge in chick flicks.
watch some good movies
The best way is to always always wash the hands - and keep them out of your mouth!
we watch tv all day
Telling rhyme stores
When the kids are sick they just want to watch movies and lie around. I feed them noodle soup and saltines.
I catch up on my reading!
Keep them with lots of water and soup and a good slow movie to get them asleep!
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com
If its more than a day I will have a box of activities like coloring books, stickers etc.
I read blogs when I'm sick, my little cousin likes to make storybook or watch tv, it's probably some of the more sane time with her since she isn't exploding with energy.
By being kind and patient. I know when to dote and I know when to be relatively scarce.
ky2here at msn dot com
we love netflix
Watch a movie!
Television series, like Once Upon a Time, are my saviors when I'm sick.
We just stay in and read books, play games etc. after the fever is gone of course
sweokgrl@gmail.com
Mucinex and books! My daughter gets very lethargic when she's sick and her favorite thing is to have me read to her. It's theruputic(for both of us) getting lost in another world while cuddled up together.
I know it sounds trite, but I make home made chicken soup. In fact, I make some when I am healthy and feel like cooking, then freeze it for when the plague hits.
When my kids are sick they get unlimited TV time in my room. Of course it's just a distraction for the first 24-48 hours while the snooze all day. After that they call it "living the life" and then I know that if they are fever free they can join the rest of the household population in 12 hours.
I keep a stash of toys for sick / snow days. Usually activities that will keep them busy. Also no limits on movie time.
I usually prepare everyone's comfort food so we all have a happy tummy. Then we go to the backyard and paint together. We can all get some fresh air and the painting just keep my kids happy and busy for a while.
amy [at] utry [dot] it
Home made broth is always a key. And, of course, lots of ice cream and sitting on the couch watching favorite shows/movies!
I never get sick but when I start to get that feeling I swab my ears and brush my teeth with straight peroxide. It is gross but I am never sick.
When I feel sick I stay in bed and drink lots of 7UP.
cartoons and movies
To keep everyone sane while they are sick I make the couches comfortable, load up on movies that they haven't watched in a while and keep everyone hydrated, fed, and medicated.
My granddaughter just likes to snuggle up on the couch with her blankets and pillow and watch a movie.
We hunker down when we're sick. LB is booger right now and I'm just hoping it doesn't escalate. Ain't nobody got time for that.
laying on the couch and watching tv !
i tweeted here:
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/317127118163177473
A snuggly blanket, cold medicine and Comedy Central.
Movies and books and lots of hand sanitizer
They like to read, when they are sick