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.
When your child has a bad cold, you both can feel miserable. Children's Mucinex is the #1 children's brand for relieving congestion* and provides fast acting relief from your child's worst cold symptoms. Try Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold if your child needs relief from stuffy nose and chest congestion. Always use Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold as directed. (*Based on IRI unit share data for the 52 weeks ending November 2012)
Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold is offering readers a $2.00 off coupon to use on your next purchase, you can retrieve your coupon here!
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.
No duplicate comments.
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)
I don't have kids yet. When we're sick there is a lot of t.v. watching going on!
I make chicken noodle soup and then we snuggle up with a good book or play card games like Uno.
rawrms at gmail dot com
Everyone should get the flu shoot, young, old. it doesn't many. Lets keep a healthy country!
But if you feel like poop, use, Mucinex, It works!
Thank you...Single Dad Danny
motoxmanager@hotmail.com
We have movie day, which consists of us not chaining out of our jammies, making popcorn or cookies and snuggling while we watch movies.
We stock up on Emergen-C, especially the kids' variety.
We usually get blankets and cuddle up on the couch with some movies and drinks.
The Tv and extra love helps
When I am sick, it is all about snuggling in bed with my gatorade, hot chai tea latte, and macaroni and cheese. LOL That and lots of TV!
lots of movies and sleep is necessary!
We watch funny cartoons.
games books movies
Our kids are grown.
When I'm sick I like to eat homemade chicken soup and watch movies on Netflix.
Thank you.
read ty.
Watch movies and eat in bed!
Rest, soup and clear liquids
We make homemade chicken soup and use the steaming pot as a vaporizer.
Cartoons and cuddling always make my kids happy on sick days.
When The Plague :-) hits here, we gather up a stack of books and get lost in the pages
for a while. Katharina angelsandmusic[at]gmail[dot]com
Some good quiet movie time is always good.
We watch movies.
movies and more movies! and childrens vicks and mucinex are a lifesaver
we fire up Netflix!
lots of naps, hot drinks, and comedy movies!
I like to make a big pot of chicken noodle soup
I don't have kids but when I am sick, I use that time to catch up on watching movies on dvds.
I sleep as much as possible, drink lots of water and hot herbal tea and use essential oils.
Thanks for the contest.
We have hand sanitizer all over the house when we're sick (even when we're not). My daughter just watches the movie Wizard of Oz when she is sick.
Lots of movies!
trippyjanet at gmail dot com
We make a bed on the floor with lots of blankets and pillows and watch movies or play games. Just spending the day together resting seems to help everyone feel better
Thanks!
getting comfy and watching tv/movies that are fun and eating comfort food
my nephew love the ipad
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/318099005362012160
change your daily habits that expose you to various bacteria,,i/e public places where lots of people congregate
I do not have kids, but if I am sick I usually just drink lots of tea and rest.
for me, its all about dvds and different clear drinks
When my kids are sick, we snuggle up and watch movies or cartoons together.
Reading & comfort foods.
When she is sick we make up games in bed or watch some videos
THE TRICK IS TO KEEP EM HAPPY (WITH TREATS, I SUPPOSE)
WE WATCH MY SON'S FAVORITE SHOWS (YO GABBA GABBA AND FRESH BEAT BAND) AND SING ALONG :)
shebebes@yahoo.com
I don't have kids, but when I'm sick I purposely make my favorite foods to eat and watch a few good movies!
When the youngest gets sick, he likes to sit with me and watch cartoons.
I give my kids special attention and also control of the remote ;)
by watching waaaay too many episodes of Dora.
Thanks for the giveaway...DVD's, books, and video games keep our kids occupied when they are sick, along with a box of tissues at their side & an ample supply of liquids to drink.
I keep plenty of fluuids around and movies.
I am a Mom, I don't get the luxury of being sick. But when my kids are sick I definitely baby them and give them anything they want.
Wholly Salsa® Avocado Verde dip
We rent a bunch of animated movies and watch those when my son is sick.
racheljeramie(at)hotmail(dot)com
please delete the wholly guac comment
Lots of chicken soup and tv in bed.