Parent ill a lot

[grabot]

Is it just me or do other parents get a cold everytime their toddler gets one? I seem to spend a significant portion of my life ill and exhausted. Whereas, other parents at work seem unaffected by their children's malaises.

[candj]

Yes, my children seem to drag all new unknown illnesses into my home. The little dumplings recover within 24/48 hours whereas it mutates into the bubonic plague for me and my husband!

[GSJ57]

Totally agree....... just wait 'til they start school!!

[womanofdulwich]

it is normal to get some, but you could try and beef yourself up a bit. it is hard to prioritise yourself. I was always being ill but cut my work hours down to get some me time and it made a huge difference.I tried to improve my diet, took extra vitamin c at the first signs, healthier diet and tried to do some exercise also. I think i went to see a homoeopath too! It can get worse when they are at school, so try and chill a bit (LOL)

[legalbeagle]

I think it's just an accepted fact that children bring pestilence into your home for the first five years of their life. I recovered from a cold last week. I now have a horrible ear infection. Next week I'll probably have chicken pox.

Sigh.

[Helen GV]

not sure if it's relevant but was recently advised to gargle with either salt water or listerine twice a day to kill bugs/viruses, as they hang around in your throat and nose for a couple of days before starting their dirty work... also was advised to swab the inside of my nostrils with the salt water though I have not taken it up yet...

[SteveT]

Children are a health hazard, they come home with a sniffle and cough and you collapse for the next two weeks in a feverish coma. Yes candj we have all been there.

The only year I had no sniffles etc was when I swam every day, I guess the chlorine (mixed with the schoolkids urine) must have given me some kind of weird protection.

[candj]

Okay, SteveT, I'll start bathing in bleach for protection!

[grabot]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I have been contemplating a four day week, so womanofdulwich's advice seems particularly apposite. I did work a four day week for a couple of months earlier in the year as a way of using of holiday. I have to say, I felt like a different person during that period.