13 Realities of Parenting During Flu Season

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While many kids are busy collecting Pokémon cards or My Little Ponies, my little ones have taken to a different hobby: collecting germs. Over the past several months, my two kiddos have endured four stomach flus, two upper respiratory infections, a scare with bronchiolitis, a walking pneumonia episode, and even an allergic reaction to a Christmas tree. Let’s not forget the UTI that came from their refusal to use the bathroom! My pediatrician knows my number by heart, and the pharmacy has become a second home. As sleepless nights pile up and boxes of tissues dwindle, I find myself wrestling with the frustration of always having sick children.

1. Will They Ever Get Better?
   Every time a cold seems to be disappearing, BAM! The other one catches it. Just when I think we’re in the clear, flu season strikes, wiping out half the preschool class. And here comes allergy season too.
2. No One Wants to Play with My Kids.
   It doesn’t matter how many gaming consoles or how nice our pool is; the mere mention of “pink eye” sends playdate invitations running for the hills.
3. Work and School Become a Juggling Act.
   I might as well hire a bouncer for my daughters’ school to check for sniffles. Healthy for 24 hours before returning? My kids haven’t been healthy for 24 minutes! Who’s going to watch my feverish sweetheart while she recuperates? The calendar just doesn’t accommodate all the missed work.
4. Friends Have Gone AWOL.
   Like that college buddy who claimed her bed bugs were gone, our home has become off-limits. No amount of disinfecting can erase the memories of past illnesses for our friends.
5. Social Events Are Off the Table.
   We’d love to join that birthday party, but unfortunately, my little one is sick. That play, concert, or even the book club meeting? Sorry, but sick kids take precedence. Sometimes, I secretly wish for a reason to bow out of unpleasant events, but most of the time, I’d trade anything to not be stuck at home playing nurse.
6. Germs Are a Family Affair.
   That stomach flu? It spreads in our household like a viral TikTok trend. What do you mean kids don’t drink Zima anymore? I’ve been out of the loop for too long!
7. Parenting Rules Go Out the Window.
   Pudding cups for breakfast and a third screening of Mary Poppins? In survival mode, anything goes. Now, if you’ll excuse me, my ill little one is requesting a second serving of Jell-O.
8. Guilt Comes Standard.
   When the kiddos get sick, it’s tempting to blame myself. Did I not bundle them up enough? Should I have kept them out of daycare? Maybe if they took vitamins or ate more greens! It’s time to shift the blame onto that pesky rhinovirus lurking in public spaces.
9. Everything Else Falls to the Wayside.
   Caring for sick kids is an all-consuming job, leaving little time for laundry or hygiene. I promise to tackle the disaster zone once my daughter finally feels better.
10. Helplessness is Real.
    After countless pediatrician visits, I’ve learned that all I can do is wait. “It’s just a phase,” they say, which is hard to accept when my child is coughing like a chain smoker.
11. Amoxicillin is Overrated.
    On the rare occasion we do get prescribed medication, it’s typically this pink syrup that my kid refuses to swallow. No amount of convincing can turn it into “bubble gum pudding” for her.
12. Giving Medicine is a Nightmare.
    Imagine pinning a squirming toddler down to administer grape Tylenol, only for it to come right back up! Repeat every four to six hours—welcome to my life.
13. There Are Sweet Moments, Too.
    In her vulnerable state, my usually rambunctious toddler curls up in my lap, gazing at me with her watery eyes. In this moment, I realize I’m the only one who can comfort her—well, me and Mary Poppins.

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In summary, parenting during flu season is a challenging journey filled with chaos, guilt, and surprisingly tender moments. It’s about surviving and finding joy amid the madness.