how do you feel when your children are sick?

[Anonymous]

Wondering lately if it's normal to feel anxious when your child is sick, but not life-threatening sick.

One of my kids is more stoic and it doesn't bother me as much when he's not feeling well. The other one younger and being sick seems to affect him more. He's whinier, cries more etc.

Intellectually, I get that he's going to be fine, but I find myself feeling kind of physically anxious until he's better.

Anyone else feel like this?

[Anonymous]

No. I do think that's anxiety. I don't feel anything when their sick. I love them and cuddle them more, but it doesn't worry me.

[Anonymous]

Is he a toddler? Beyond that age, my kids just tell me.

[Anonymous]

Do you mean lately, or during normal times?

In normal times, not really. I cared for them, snuggled, and like PP, wasn't worried. I trusted that they'd feel better soon. One kid had febrile seizures for a few years, so when he had a fever, I was worried, but by and large, not worried.

Now, I feel a little concerned when someone has a headache or feels under the weather. I know that they're probably fine (and they've always turned out fine) but I am very relieved when they start feeling better. Like I can exhale.

[Anonymous]

My kids have only been seriously, scary sick a couple of times. I didn't like that. But for the most part, when they're just regularly sick, I enjoy taking care of them. These days are different, obviously. Of course it's anxiety provoking when someone you love gets sick during a pandemic. I think that's totally normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you mean lately, or during normal times?

In normal times, not really. I cared for them, snuggled, and like PP, wasn't worried. I trusted that they'd feel better soon. One kid had febrile seizures for a few years, so when he had a fever, I was worried, but by and large, not worried.

Now, I feel a little concerned when someone has a headache or feels under the weather. I know that they're probably fine (and they've always turned out fine) but I am very relieved when they start feeling better. Like I can exhale.

Definitely more lately. I feel like I'm really watching for signs that they're sick. In normal times, they picked up random stuff fairly frequently from preschool and I expected it and it didn't bother me.

Example: the 3 year old told me today in a super sad, whiny voice, that his tummy hurt. And I had this stress response in my body like it was a big deal. But it turned into nothing. Like he just had to poop or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is he a toddler? Beyond that age, my kids just tell me.

Just turned 3. He doesn't really have the vocab to be specific. Like, he says the same thing when he needs to poop as when he's about to puke, if that makes sense. And I hate waiting to see which it is!

Another example, he says: "My mouth hurts" when he bites his tongue, or has a sore throat.

Anyway, the feeling passes quickly. I just feel like lately I'm hyper vigilant to signs of illness.