Thursday, January 17, 2013

Gone Viral

Claire's my canary in a coal mine. When the invisible vapors of illness hit her in the form of a fever, cold, or vomiting, I know I'm doomed. It will soon be my fate to suffer a similar sickly state. I'm about 9 out of 10 for catching whatever she's got.


I fought these odds when I was an elementary school teacher. It didn't always work, but I had my germ-fighting, immune-boosting strategies down -- teaching kids the vampire cough, strict hand washing policies, an arsenal of zinc lozenges and vitamin C, as well as maintaining a safe distance from infected children without revealing that I viewed them like leper pariahs.

It's the "safe distance" part that's the catch-22 for moms. It's impossible to avoid the germ-ridden coughs, saliva and mucus of your own child. In so many beautiful ways, mother and child are like one. Unfortunately, what follows from this conclusion is that their germs become yours too.

When I'm not engaging with Claire's runny nose in a vain attempt to wipe it, she's coughing in my face without heed to the concept of personal space. If she's not handing a booger to me to hold (sorry for the visual), she's demanding a drink from my glass or some of my food (since, of course, whatever I'm eating is infinitely better than what she's eating, even when we're eating exactly the same thing).

It's unfair. I suffered through these garden variety illnesses as a child. It's Claire's turn to catch germs, not mine. Don't think me callous, either. Of course, I feel horrible when my child's sick. That's exactly the point. I want to spend all of my faculties nursing her back to health, not have them compromised because I'm taking care of me.

The worst part is that all of the railing in this post won't help me to avoid the inevitable. We are both going to continue to get sick. At least, I'm no longer suffering in silence. Thanks for listening!


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38 comments:

  1. Aw, feel better mama.

    ps - what is a Vampire Cough??

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    Replies
    1. You will learn about the vampire cough, my dear! Kids are taught to cough into their sleeve, so that they look like Bela Legosi with the cape.

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  2. Oh I feel your pain, it's a viscous cycle in our house too, and it usually starts with my son who then passes it on to my boyfriend (oddly enough I can usually resist the virus from the little one) and by the time those two get over it it hits me with a vengeance, after gaining strength from the last two victims.
    Hope it's not too bad for your household this year!

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  3. I, too, manage to catch every snotty nose, barfing stomach and disgusting cough that my son brings home. Sigh. Giggled at the line of whatever you're eating being infinitely better than whatever your daughter's eating. :)

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  4. My husband is he same way. He catches every single thing that my daughter contracts.

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    Replies
    1. I'm glad that you don't, since your pregnant. Being pregnant and sick is the WORST!

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  5. The same thing happens to me. My daughter always brings something home from school and I inevitably catch it! My husband and other daughter never seem to. It's unfair but at least I don't need to take care of their whiny butts on top of everything else, lol.

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    Replies
    1. Hmmm...my husband doesn't seem to give me that kind of break!

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  6. My household shares colds and viruses like you wouldn't believe. With 6 kids, it's a rare time if no one's sick lol. I feel your pain!

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  7. I know exactly what you mean. I have been wiping Reagan's nose all damn day for the past two weeks! When is enough enough? Ugh!
    I try to wash my hands and use hand sanitizer as much as possible. So far so good ... but we shall see :)

    xoxo
    Lanaya
    www.raising-reagan.com

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for linking your favorite post to Raising Imperfection.
      Please come back Friday to see if you were featured :)

      xoxo
      Lanaya
      www.raising-reagan.com

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    2. Does Reagan willingly LET you wipe her nose?? That's an improvement from our house!

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  8. I know it sucks when your kid gets sick but think of all the immunities you are building. Now when they have the flu, that's when I run for the hills....

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  9. Nothing worse than fighting your child's virus! The twins always catch each others illness and not too long after that...both hubby and I catch it too.
    Please don't forget to add the FYBF button or link to your post when joining in with FYBF. Thanks!

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  10. Oh I hate the contagious cooties! Lysol is my best friend in fall and winter. Love your post! Saw your link on the saturday morning blog hop so hop back and see me at http://www.m00ngl0w.blogspot.com

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  11. Ah yes. One of the many plagues of motherhood. And when you have multiple kids and one gets sick right after the other instead of at the same time, your sickness in the house can last a month. Its very frustrating. Vitamin C supplements and hand washer are my only defense system. Good luck!

    Heather from Mommy Only Has 2 Hands

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    Replies
    1. Sickness is just one of the "plagues", right?

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  12. Hey, I hear you- my son sleeps with us and even though Barney says keep your sneeze to yourself- my son refuses to cover his mouth when he sneezes in our face at bedtime- after he does it- he covers his mouth- precious huh? feel better - following you from the sat hop! joyandgladnessofheart.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. He's got a timing issue! With practice, I'm sure it'll all be resolved. :)

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  13. Sometimes you just have to get it all off your chest. I don't even want to vocalise (or write) about how my family may or may not have had a healthy season (touch wood). Emily

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  14. In retrospect, I'd much rather catch a cold from my trio than some of the things I caught them at during ::shudder:: puberty. ; ) Feel better and drink lots of hot lemonade w/honey, works wonders. Here again from the weekend showcase and sending BB2U.

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  15. I always wonder how in the world my son's Kindergarten teacher keeps from getting sick throughout the year. Someone in her class is always out w/the flu or something.

    Hope you don't get it this go around. I'm visiting today from Raising Imperfection.

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  16. I am hoping you can avoid this round of illness!

    Thanks for sharing your favorite post at Raising Imperfection! We feature our favorites on Friday, make sure to come back and check.
    Leslie
    www.violetimperfection.com

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  17. I was JUST thinking about this the other day and thinking how I don't remember my mom ever getting sick. It feels a little unfair....

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  18. Could not have read this at a better time. Zane got sick with the stomach flu, then Hayley got sick, and guess who is sick now- me! Fun times, lol!! Thank goodness for my husband but you never know if he will get it next.

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  19. Ug being sick with kids / having kids who are sick is the worst. I had the flu all last week (even though I did get the flu shot) and now I think I'm sick with a cold. Blarnk. Poor Cupcakes hasn't caught what I've had by some miracle, but I miss being able to be super close to her and give her lots of smooches!

    I too was an elementary teacher (now daycare teacher) so I am always around germs and boogies. It's not fun.

    Jamie
    For Love of Cupcakes

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  20. PS thanks for joining the I <3 my Blog {Hop} last week!

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