Parenting sick kids when both parents are sick
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Anonymous
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Help me through this. We’re a family of 5 (8,7,2) and we’ve had what I suspect to be the flu.
As it’s been over the past week, it’s gone from person to person. I got sick Tuesday night, and DH got sick Friday. That means I got 2 days in bed (high fever, body aches, chills) and DH dealt with the other 3 kids. But now I’m on duty with the other kids while DH is in bed, although I’m still feeling really weak and tired. It has only been 3 days. 2 kids are better-ish, and one has a 103 fever and is in bed. It’s hard not to feel bitter about having “only” two sick days. I know DH can’t control his sickness but it’s hard. He has a high fever and a cough but is in bed on his phone (whereas I slept for 2 solid days in bed). I’m just wondering how couples do the sickness Olympics. How do you decide when one person sicknesses end, and the other begins? How do you decide who’s on duty? |
Anonymous
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Sounds like DH is sick enough to be in bed if he has a high fever even if not sleeping. Make your life as easy as possible. No limits on screens or whatever your kids like. Order in food.
This too will pass! |
Anonymous
| You just power through. Right now, I’m on Day 14 of a terrible cough. My husband had it and recovered after about 7 days. I’m sure he feels how you feel right now. He will March through. And I’m doing the best I can while still feeling bad. |
Anonymous
| I can’t remember DH being terribly sick at the same time as me but I was a SAHM. I remember being on my own to care for my 3 day every day even when very sick. I have memories of vomiting in the bathroom to the backdrop of kids tv. It sucked. You have to lower your standards. Your goal is to keep your kids safe, fed and to change your 2 year olds diaper. Cereal for breakfast, canned soup or frozen food for lunch and pizza for dinner. Don’t worry about feeding them junk. Your older kids can mostly care for themselves. Screens are your friend. Since you all have the same virus, it’s safe to all snuggle up together. |
Anonymous
Co-signed by this single parent |
Anonymous
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Turn on the TV for the kids.
Go back to bed. |
Anonymous
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Suck it up and deal, unfortunately.
We have 3yo and 7yo DDs. I relax any and all screen time rules, we order pizza, that sort of thing. I tend to be better than my DH at pushing through illness and simultaneously managing the kids, so I'm usually the one handling it and am used to it by this point, but it is still tough. |
Anonymous
| Lots of screen time and delivery food. That’s the best you can do. |
Anonymous
| Dont blame your spouse just do the best you can and assume he is too. We've had the same thing this week. I got hit much harder though and DH is doing the most work. Next time around that might be reversed. |
Anonymous
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Mother of 5 here and I can confirm parenting freaking sucks sometimes. Here are some things to help:
1) Go get Tamiflu. When my daughter and I both had Flu A, we suffered for a week before going to the doctor and getting Tamiflu. We were both better in 1 day after we took it. 2) If it is your youngest who is still sick, crawl in bed with them. Then you are parenting and also resting. If not, you are lying on the sofa watching Bluey with toddler and other not-sick kid. Put toys on floor nearby so toddler can play at same time. DH can crawl into bed with sick child and rest. 3) Like other poster said, order in food. 4) 8 and 7 year old are old enough to help out. It can be fun taking some responsibility like washing dishes and giving medicine. |
Anonymous
| Give up on the idea of screen time limits or making healthy food. Just do whatever you need to do to get through. I'd basically just pass out on the couch while my toddler played on me and around me. Have a movie marathon with the older kids. |
Anonymous
| The five of us got hit by a stomach flu over Christmas. Everyone had two days of misery spread over about 8 days. Thankfully my DH and my truly awful days did not completely overlap so we powered through it. My ILs offered to help but we didn’t want them to get sick. We survived but the house looked like hell. |
Anonymous
| You don't parent. Do just enough to keep them alive. Screens. Takeout. More screens. |
Anonymous
Seriously, this. But, delivery for food. Screens the entire day for all I care. Bribe the older ones to watch the little one. Feed favorite foods. |
Anonymous
| I can’t imagine getting to spend two days in bed with my three kids and I’ve been sick many a time. I think you’re being petty. |