Hey mom's Tell us all 3 of your favorite flare stratogies when you MUST still be mom

[dancemomof2]

I just got to wondering what others do to cope with your kids while flaring and home with them.

1. We blow up the air mattress and watch movies in the living room floor. My 2 year old loves this and thinks he is on a ship and can't touch "the water" or the floor LOL

2. Recrute the older 2 for a couple bucks to help out

3. I tell Colten that that heating pad only helps if he is holding my hand. He will watch movies, color, or do whatever holdong my hand to make me feel better. He also likes to water color on me with only water and a brush. He paints my hands and nail.

Whats your helpful hints for flare survival with children

[vm]

GREAT idea, Leslie! :)

* One that I can think of, that I've not used myself, would be to go to the dollar store or somewhere cheap and buy a bunch of stuff that you can put into a rubbermaid type box for those flare days or moments. Only let the kids use the things in the box during those times when Mommy or Daddy needs a break.

* Another would be to play a board game in bed or from the couch.

* Get a big plastic tablecloth and spread it out on the bed or on the floor and play Play-Doh.

* Have a couple of special videos/DVDS that the kids only get to see when Mommy or Daddy is flaring.

* Get a nice lawnchair or hammock that you can relax in while the kids play outside or on the patio, screened in porch, etc.

* Those Magic Wonders books/papers and markers are wonderful for kids to use in bed with you - again only used during those flare times so they are super special for the kids.

* Have the kids put on a puppet show for you.

* Legos are good for older kids to do with you in bed.

[vm]

Whoops! Just saw you asked for 3. LOL

[jaime15]

One thing we started at a very early age and continue now is hanging out in the bed or on the sofa and reading my 5 year old's favorite books.

He's writing now, so I get him to write everyone's name....which can take awhile but it keeps him busy.

[dancemomof2]

LOL Kim the more the better. Those are great ideas!

[ihurttoo]

Those are all great ideas! I also do the "treat box" only for when I am sick and go to the Library once a week for videos and books and hold some out in case I need a few hours of peace. Lastly, I try to make double and triple batches of things when I cook and freeze the extras, that way if I am flaring, I can just pull something out and throw it in the oven and we have something homemade.

I love all those ideas so far! Keep em coming! :D

[ICNDonna]

My children are all adults now, but when they were grade school age, I let them climb in bed with me and watch scary movies --- and they would cover their heads in the scary spots. My youngest was my "water" boy --- he learned in school that it's important to drink enough water so he was certain that I got plenty to drink. Sometimes we had reading sessions, taking turns reading to each other.

One thing I learned is that my children grew up with an understanding and compassion for others that they never would have developed if I had been healthy during their childhood.

Donna

[humpieumpumkin]

Im not a mommy yet, but I gotta tell you these are some great ideas. It never even crossed my mind the reality of having children during a flare! :rolleyes: This is a real eye opener for me. You ladies and gentelmen who have kids are my heros! :bow: Thanks again for the great ideas, hopefully someday I will be able to experience the joy of having children.:)

Erika:hi:

[GriffsMommy]

I don't really have any special tricks. The older step children help out more when I'm flaring and I usually put Griffin's favorite shows on ON DEMAND, that thing is a life saver! Sometimes if I can find something he really likes to watch he'll even let me take a little cat nap on the couch and he'll just sit next to me. If I'm really flairing I also take a nap while he's napping, of course this only work with toddlers that actually take a nap.

[RAS6]

I am so glad to get new ideas from others, especially for young kids (mine are 2 and 7)

I try to give them little "jobs" to do, sometimes things that are helpful, sometimes things that are fun: putting my slippers on my feet (they actually like it, I swear!), getting my heating pad for me, finding soft pillows, picking out a movie or book, etc. My oldest does like to get bottled water out of the fridge like Donna had suggested.

My 7 year old has ADHD and some sensory issues, so when I really hurt we often practice some of her relaxation exercises her Occupational therapist gave us. These include lying still (me on my side) and letting all of our body parts starting with our toes up to our heads slowly relax. I usually only give it 2 to 5 minutes because she can't hold still for much longer! Another quick one we both like is taking 10 slow breaths with our eyes closed.

Tonight we took the dress up clothes and put them in the livingroom. I laid on the couch and relaxed and they put on a "dress up show" with singing and dancing for me! It might even work for boys, just depends on what you and they are comfortable with.

Thanks for the treat box idea! I love it! I had never thought to have something fun set aside for when I don't feel well. It always felt like a time to trudge through and try to survive.
So nice to get some helpful solutions!:)

[tigger_gal]

I call the direct connect line...
Have Ash watch him for me to lay down, if Jake won't nap
Watch cartoons lol
drag out tmx elmo

[RAS6]

Hey tigger gal, is the TMX Elmo for Jake or for you? That things cracks me up! Our 2 year old loves hers, but I think my husband and I play with it more than the kids! :)

[dancemomof2]

OMG I hate that TMX Elmo. HE was so fun the first 30 minutes then it has been all down hill LOL

[tigger_gal]

lol ras.. I still play with him :)

[Ginny]

Don't forget to ask for help. Grandparents are wonderful when moms don't feel good.

Ginny

[Berkshire Road]

Since we strictly limit television time ordinarily, when I feel really bad I sometimes give my daughter some "free" TV time. Especially when my husband is traveling for his job (one week out of every month). We started a system where some nights she agrees to do all the dinner cleanup in exchange for being allowed to eat in front of the TV. She thinks she's getting the better part of this deal, and I think I am. So it's a win-win.

Have her bring her homework upstairs, and sit next to me on the bed while she does it. That way, we are close, and I'm available if she needs any help. Even though she's turned 12 now, she still regards spending time in Mom's bed as a treat.

Art projects. She is old enough so she doesn't need direct supervision, so sometimes I'll ask her to make something special, something specific, for me. Like, could you draw me a fairy and color it in pastels? Even littler kids, I would think, would be able to do this if they stay in the same room with the parent.

[blackcat25]

Hi,
This thread is an absolute godsend!! I have a 10 week old son, and I'm sure I'll make use of these strategies in future!
Hugs,
Blackcat:cat:

[Autumn B. May]

My kids think it is an adventure when they get to go to Paw-paw's for my son and Nan-nae's for my daughter and they will sometime go spend the night with them to give them a break from each other as well as from me.

If my flare is SEVERE, we watch movies together. My son is now old enough and he was born with a birth defect (Spina Bifida--he's o.k. now we just have to keep an eye on head swelling, weakness and spinal fluid leakage)so he understands needing to rest and take care of yourself. My daughter doctors me and massages my feet with a foot lotion. If she were old enough she would cook. She is into cooking and watching cooking shows, so that is usually the point we read recipes together.

THANKS FOR ALL THE HELPFUL HINTS! I am now preparing a IC FLARE EMERGENCY KID BOX...only for when mom is in a flare.:bow:

[Hanneke]

Wow these are really great ideas some I had thought of some I hadn't so thanks for all the ideas.

I agree about letting grandparents help when ever they can even if it is when your well, I take the chance then to sit down and truly relax my mum lives 6 hours away she is here for a week and I am going to try and just have a break mums are great:)

I belive in TV, I was told once by a doctor when I am ill or my child has been up all night if turning the tv on means you get a rest or even better a nap there is nothing to feel guilty about so DO IT!

What a great thread I will be checking it often. :angel:

[Autumn B. May]

I totally agree with you Hanneke when it come to t.v. My kids are outside kids but they also love their t.v. My pediatrician as well as my physician has always said a sick mom or a tired mom can not take care of their children if they do not take care of theirselves and I tried to listen to them. Now of course, as a mother, I will let it get really bad before I do ANYTHING about it and that is one thing I am working on. HAVE A GOOD REST WHILE YOUR MUM IS THERE!!!!:smile tee