Sick Mommy With Toddlers

What do you do when you're sick but your ever-so-active toddlers are doing just dandy?! Here are some things that I do to make a sick day go as smoothly as possible.

1. Set simple goals.
I don't kick myself if I don't do any laundry. Depending on how sick I am, I don't even let myself feel guilty if I don't cook supper. That's what peanut butter sandwiches and cereal are for.

2.Focus only on basic needs.
Feed the kids and change their diapers. Don't feel like you have to do any more than that.

3. Try to think of simple things to feed the kids that are easy to clean up.
Peanut butter sandwiches aren't bad; all you need to do is put away the peanut butter, jelly, and bread and put the plates in the dishwasher when they're done. No mess created; not too terribly difficult for momma.  You may also want to have some stuff on hand that they can get out completely independently.  We like GoGo Squeez fruit at our house.

4. Keep the kids in one room as much as possible.
I put the kids in one of their bedrooms where they can play with toys. I sit in the chair or lay on my son's bed while they play. If I try to go to sleep in my own bedroom, they'll be all over the house doing who-knows-what. If I keep them in one room, they aren't able to be (terribly) destructive.

5. Keep special activities on hand that they only get to play with when you really need them to stay occupied. 

By doing these things, I am able to keep the kids from creating horrible messes that my husband will have to clean up when he comes home. It also helps keep me from getting depressed about having a messy house on top of being physically sick.

What are some things you would suggest to mothers of toddlers when they're sick?

(You may also like the post “How to Survive When You're in Survival Mode“)