Does this sound familiar...
The first cold/flu strikes your house. One kid goes down, then another, then dad... Possible cycling back through everyone for an encore performance. Then, after spending two weeks caring for every member of your family who's been sick, YOU get sick. Not super sick, just kind of dragging and sniffling sick.
Then, two weeks later, because you refused to slow down and take care of yourself, you find yourself bedridden. Dying. Not even the mountain of laundry in your house, currently so large it's getting its own zip code, can't even rouse you out of bed.
All because your stubborn ass didn't delegate the chores and go back to bed. FAIL! FAIL! FAIL!
It's time for Change, Parents.
It's time to take care of yourself sooner than later so you don't spend the ENTIRE winter fighting off your first cold or flu from, OCTOBER! You know, like last winter and the Winter before that?
You know I'm right, too.
So, what's the plan? You've read my viral post on, Tips for keeping your family safe during cold and flu season, but what happens if the flu infiltrates your household? How will you stop yourself from getting the four-month mom's draggin' ass flu? Don't have a plan? Haven't even thought about it? Here are a few tips from me and the experts on how to care for yourself, so the holidays' don't consist of you sick and miserable.
1. Create an emergency sick kit BEFORE anyone gets sick! Stock the house with EVERYTHING you need to fight off winter's ailments, BEFORE they strike. Pre-stock the house with cold/flu meds, throat lozenges, extra boxes of tissue, Gatorade, sprite, antibacterial wipes... YOU know you will have to buy them eventually Why wait until 11:30 at night with a crying child or a head cold so hardcore you're positive death would be better?
2. Delegate the chores, early in the season. There's no reason you should do everything, anyway. Make a list of your night and morning routine. Pass it off to the most responsible adult. I say "most responsible adult" because, sometimes, it's a toss-up between my husband and his mini-me.
3. GO TO BED.
4. SLEEP IN.
5. Eat a solid breakfast. NOT just the last two bites of the waffle your child didn't finish.
6. Decide if a trip to the doctor is necessary. If so, BLOODY GO!!!!!!
7. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. Until the cold or flu has passed, stay still. No good comes from dragging your sorry ass out of bed the minute you have enough energy. Seriously. How did that work out for you last year? It brought you another day in bed, didn't it? Me too.
Or.
You could do nothing.
Which, you know results in you eventually being bed-ridden anyway. Remember last year when you took days off work and were too sick to move thanks to not slowing down in the first place?
Yeah. That.
My friend, don't fall into the same sick routine. You know you will end up in bed one way or another.
Why not take care of yourself and get ALL THE WAY better on the front end? It only takes about 1-3 days. Opposed to the month of sniffles and feeling rundown that leads to the two weeks of feeling like you're dying, followed by two days in bed feeling like death would be a welcome relief. Only to get about 85% better and spend the rest of the winter feeling, "not-quite-right."
Do you really want that?
Please, mom, dad, primary caregiver, take care of yourself this cold and flu season.
