The Most Snotful Time of the Year
It’s that time of year, the holidays are over, and we are trying to squeeze in one last family activity the last weekend before the kids are back in school. Plans are set and just as you’re about to yell “get your shoes on”, you hear a sneeze from the other room. That one little sneeze creates a moment of panic as you replay all of the times you’ve reminded the kids to wash their hands and to dress in layers because, even though the sun is shining, it is still chilly. All it takes is one little sneeze or cough to start the domino effect, because that’s right, it’s Cold & Flu Season. This time every year I spend a fortune on new humidifiers, air purifiers, homeopathic cold supplements, vitamins, hand soap/sanitizers, and gallons of honey. You name it, we have it, or will have it soon. As a mom, it’s hard to avoid picking up germs from your kids. When they are sick, all they really want is YOU; they want your hugs, your kisses and your cuddles. Most of the time, we strap on our capes, and dig in because that’s what Supermoms do, right? However, through all of that, you get sneezed on and coughed on (and sometimes worse!), and it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve sprayed the house down or washed everything in sight, the inevitable happens. BAM! Down goes mommy, sneezing, coughing, sleep deprived, sick mommy. As moms, we try to make sure everyone in our house is taken care of, so it is hard to surrender to sickness. But sometimes, we have to take care of ourselves too. So don’t be too proud to call in reinforcements and ask for help from daddy, grandparent, cousin, best friend, or the now “well” kids. Also, remember that rest and hydration is the key to surviving a cold, so keep the liquids flowing and get to bed early. Give the kids some wiggle room on tv time, if it means more quiet time for mommy. It’s also helpful to minimize stress levels by ordering take out or pizza delivery. It’s okay to let things go and lean on the support of others for a few days until you’re back to your healthy super self. Just make sure to stock up on tissues, lemon, and honey - lots of honey.
