In families with multiple children, the onset of common illnesses such as colds or flu often leads to a predictable chain reaction. Initially, the caregiver approaches the situation with an air of compassion, masking any feelings of dread to address the needs of the ailing child. However, as the number of sick siblings increases, the dynamic shifts dramatically.
In most cases, the illness first strikes the younger children, who are notorious for putting everything into their mouths and subsequently sharing their germs. It invariably begins in the dead of night when a child approaches your bedside, whispering, “Mommy, my tummy hurts.” Before you can fully awaken, you may find yourself in the unfortunate position of cleaning up vomit—whether it lands on the floor or, worse, on you. In such moments, the best course of action is to breathe through your mouth.
Despite the unpleasantness of the situation, you strive to remain calm and reassuring: “Everything is alright. Mommy’s here; you’re going to be fine.” After cleaning up the mess, you may find yourself settling on the couch for the night.
This is just the first round.
After a day or two of endless cartoons and couch time, your youngest begins to recover, only for the older siblings to start exhibiting symptoms: stuffy noses, coughs, and general malaise. One by one, they begin to display their discomfort, and soon, tissues are replaced with toilet paper as supplies of popsicles and ginger ale dwindle.
As the illness progresses, the older children—now tweens and teens—exhibit fatigue and start to complain: “I don’t feel well.” When you suggest a visit to the doctor, they insist they’ll be fine, only to return to whining moments later. This exhausting cycle can easily push any parent’s patience to its limit.
By the time the last sibling falls ill, the initial sympathy has faded. Instead of offering gentle reassurances, you may find yourself exclaiming, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” to the child who wakes you in the night. It can be particularly challenging to be the last one to get sick in a bustling household.
Just last week, my 12-year-old daughter returned home from school and approached me. I anticipated a warm embrace. Instead, she coughed directly in my face and declared, “I think I have a fever.” “Get away from me!” I exclaimed, gesturing towards the thermometer.
Despite the toll that sleep deprivation takes on my patience, I remain grateful that our health issues are typically resolvable with time and over-the-counter medications like Tylenol. We are fortunate to be in a position where our health concerns can be managed at home, even if we are a bit germy.
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In summary, dealing with illness in a large family can be overwhelming but also reminds us of our resilience and the importance of compassion, even when exhaustion sets in.