Beware of Sick Child

It is going to happen.  Your child is going to get sick, it is inevitable.  When your child gets sick it throws your entire world into a tizzy.  Everything about your day to day life is impacted.  

Your child may not want to eat.  We can tell that our son is not feeling well when he does not want to eat.  He is generally a good eater.  But when he does not feel well, he may only eat a little soup as opposed to a full meal.  We do make sure he keeps drinking lots and lots of water to prevent dehydration and to flush out his system.  

Your child may not want to play.  Our son generally runs around the house like a tornado going from toy to toy and room to room playing.  And he is happy and smiley the whole way through.  But when he is not feeling well, he tends to stay in one area and play with only one or two toys.  We are actually okay with this part because it is easier for us as parents and less to clean up.  (I know, I know...)

Your child may not want to sleep.  This is the most difficult thing for us as parents to deal with.  As I have said before, a child's sleep is the most important thing.  Our son wakes up constantly throughout the night when he does not feel well and barely naps if at all.  It makes him more tired and cranky and he becomes far more difficult to deal with.  He was never a great sleeper.  He does not want to sleep and when he does, he is quite sensitive to every noise in the house.  This is worsened when he does not feel well.  And when he does not sleep, no one in the house sleeps.  So not only is he tired, but so are we.  

The best thing we have learned to do is try and make him feel better (obviously) and be very very very patient.  This can be trying at times, but we have to try and remember he does not feel well and he is normally not a difficult child.  Once he gets better, our house returns to its normal order of mild chaos and happiness.