Sick Kids

Lets face it...sick kids suck! As a parent you hope that responding to a sick child gets easier as they get older (because they are more effective at communicating their symptoms, they are old enough to take OTC medicines, cough drops, have stronger immune systems, etc). However, parenting to sick kid while they are very young...means sucking it up for the team. Oh, you haven't experienced this yet? Ha ha ha... it's coming!  Lets start with the case of infant with a cold. In other words, infant can't breath especially when trying to sleep which means infant is not sleeping and neither are you. They make these "wedges" to help prop baby up to keep nasal fluids from draining into their lungs (causing further cold symptoms/issues) but as babies go...they often slide/wiggle down the wedge defeating the purpose. Then there are also those nose sucker thingys. You may be a lucky one who's child actually enjoys something stuck up its nose sucking the life of the boogies that collect there but others of us have to put the kid in a head lock, kicking & screaming to get those gross things out! All for the good of helping them breathe! (and by the way, they will NEVER thank you for this!)lol. In the long run, there isn't a darn thing you can do for these little ones but help them feel more comfortable. And that's just a cold...heaven forbid a fever or worse!  But lets give fevers and stomach bugs, their due.  The case of the toddler that says "Mommy, I feel sick." Which prompts the usual parent to touch their forehead and ask 20 questions of "does this hurt?" "did you eat something you shouldn't?" and so on. Of course you consider yourself lucky if time permits you to do this because in most cases by the time the toddler tells you he doesn't feel well, it's too late. Vomit or diarrhea is already on its way! That's right folks. I ain't talking about that cute spit up after a baby didn't get a good burp...I'm talking about breakfast, lunch, & dinner...on you, or in their bed, or in their pants! It is nothing short of disgusting, even when it comes from your own spawn! There isn't anything cute about a sick kid!  Well, okay, maybe when they look up at your with loving eyes or when they fall asleep from exhaustion in your arms but that is where it ends!  So I've had to deal with all this and I've been getting off easy believe it or not! This is the tip of the iceberg in terms of health issues you may have to help your child face in their life. And I haven't even gone into depth about scrubbing carpets, washing soiled undies, washing your own hand obsessively because when a kid is sick you gotta do what you can to avoid germs or spreading them yourself! These little ones don't cover their mouths or noses...and the sloppy kisses! Oh geez, it's like they are purposely trying to drag us down with them! lol.  Weathering through sick kids makes you a stronger parent.  Rarely are there other times in a child's life where they are so vulnerable, so dependent on someone to help them feel better. It is these times you can shine as a parent in terms of your response to them, your love, your caring, your understanding. Your patience will be tested...common, we all get cranky when we're sick...but it will pass. What develops after these bouts of illness is trust, a building stone to respect and a healthy parent/child relationship.  While sick kids suck, you won't be their personal Kleenex forever...and that part kinda sucks too.  A Good Parent, realizes that and gets through these tough times with a smile.