I suppose it was only a matter of time.
Despite all three kids being at nursery since the age of one we’ve somehow managed to escape being hit with the chicken pox stick. Until now.
It all started with the dreaded email alert from nursery (you know the one), followed by the unmistakable appearance of angry red spots on the middle one’s back (I swear you can actually watch them appear).
It wasn’t long before the little critters were everywhere – and when I say everywhere I mean everywhere – and I’m guessing it’s only a matter of time before the girls get them too.
This is all well and good if you don’t have to actually be anywhere or do anything other than nurse them back to health. Not so good when you’re a work-at-home mum with deadlines looming. So what can you do? Here’s what I’ve discovered.
The work-at-home mum’s guide to surviving chicken pox
1. Don’t panic. I mean you can panic, but there’s absolutely no point.
2. Don’t think about all the work you’ve got hanging over you. You’ll manage it. You always do.
3. Accept it. There’s really nothing you can do about it, and the sooner you accept that the better.
4. Buy all the medicine. Liquid paracetamol, liquid ibuprofen, liquid piriton and calamine lotion (them). Valium and wine (you).
5. Buy all the distractions you can get your hands on. Magazines, ice cream (just the job if they’ve got them in their mouth), DVDs – all the things you usually say no to.
6. Prepare to climb the walls. Because you can’t take them out, not while they’re contagious, anyway.
7. When they say they’ve got spots on – or in – their unmentionables take their word for it. It brings a whole new meaning to the term spotted dick.
8. Prepare to spend their every sleeping moment awake. Because it’s the only way you’ll get what you need to do done.
9. Treat the incubation period as a time of reflection. Namely that chicken pox sucks.
10. Remember you’re doing great, and this, too, shall pass.
Have you had chicken pox in your house recently? Do you have any top tips? I’d love to know what they are!
oh my goodness i don’t know how you do it! i get so distracted easily / lazy when i am home. keep it up mumma #itsok
When my sons had chicken pox at the same time – they were 3 and 1 – I took them to the local park in the daytime to kick a ball around. It was during the school day, so there was nobody around for them to infect!
OMG – I laughed out loud at this one! I caught chicken pox off my bonus daughter. She was 3 I was 26. It sucked big time and was definitely worse for me than for her. It is worse the older you get! Yes to the unmentionables. I looked like a damn monster, a poster child for an evil step-mother!
This sacrifice I made (as I am the one who stayed home to babysit her when her parents went out to work) might be the reason my husband felt he had to marry me! lol
Yes to the wine too!
#itsok
It’s the worst. I got it as an adult – and you can get it again! And it messed with my brain function for weeks after. Shocking!! Get well! #Dreamteam
Oh this brings back memories. I had 4 with it at once, I just figured I may as well get it all over and done with, of course it can come back but tough wood it didn’t for mine and they are now old enough to deal with it themselves. #DreamTeam
Chicken pox can be so tricky. When my twins had it I thought one had escaped it and then almost a month later boom she got it too! Hope that next week is better. Thanks for sharing with the #DreamTeam