Baby being held

Making the Best of Being Stuck Indoors With Sick Kids

You truly don’t understand the misery of it until you experience it… having sick kids, that is. It’s more than just having sick kids. It’s having whiny kids, clingy kids, snotty kids… all of that on top of putting your life and routine on hold while you isolate them from the rest of the world, because you wouldn’t dare bring this sickness upon another family. Your kids are the worst version of themselves, and you can’t leave your house. Does it get much worse?

Earlier this fall, I thought I would be proactive and create a “sick caddy” with children’s pain reliever, fever reducer, throat lozenges, pediatric mentholated chest patches, and our trusted ear thermometer. I thought that maybe if I was ready for sick season this year (if there is such a thing), I would jinx it and we’d get through the next few months with maybe a few coughs and sniffles, and that would be it.

Fast forward to a few weeks later, my daughter tested positive for influenza A, and the doctor at urgent care informed us we were the first case they’d seen yet this season. Sick season was off to a great start for us.

While we wish we could have left all the germs behind with the urgent care facility, the flu came home with us and quickly overtook my husband, who became bedridden with an almost 104-degree fever for days. All I could do was pray none of the rest of us got it.

Well, just as my luck failed with what I thought was the preventative medicine caddy, I would also soon be disappointed to realize that the flu had taken down 5/5 of us, as slowly and drawn out as possible. My biggest regret about this experience was honestly not just passing around a lollipop to each member of the family to get it over quickly. This would have helped us avoid at least a few of the very long 14 consecutive days of misery confined in our home with illness.

By the latter half of our time stuck at home, I was slowly going insane, and I realized I needed to take some notes for next time… remembering things I needed to do better, or mindsets or tools that were helping us survive in that moment. I knew deep down that I wasn’t “special.” Every parent eventually goes through something like this at least once (probably multiple times). It was my hope that perhaps, in my desperate state, I might be able to come up with some simple tips for hope and encouragement for other parents finding themselves stuck at home with sick kids in the future.

So, here are some things I learned:

  • The sick caddy was great. While it didn’t prevent illness like I’d hoped, I was very appreciative when it came to good use. To assemble a sick caddy, simply buy a small plastic bin and the medicines of your choosing. I stocked ours with common over-the-counter medicines for young children. I also added some throat-soothing lollipops, some mentholated chest patches and a thermometer. I even stuck a little notepad and pen in there for an easy way to record the times I administered medicine to each child. It can get very complicated when you are giving different types and amounts of medications to multiple children, especially in the middle of the night. Take notes!
  • Give yourself grace. Your life isn’t normal right now, so let go of the normalcy you try to maintain. You just put your routine on pause, and you can put your screen time limits on hold as well. Do you normally try to prepare fresh and healthy food for the week, and do you prefer to eat from real dishes? Well, this isn’t a normal week, so get some easy lunches, popsicles, ice cream, and an extra bottle of wine for yourself. And some paper plates! Prop your feet up and snuggle those sick babies. You can’t do it all, so prioritize what’s important and let the rest go.
  • Remember, “this too shall pass.” If a bad illness goes around the family slowly like it did for mine, brace yourself, because you might find yourself living in a false reality that this is your new normal. It can cause feelings of despair and loneliness, feeling like you’re never going to leave your house ever again. You might wonder if you will ever like this snotty-nosed whiny kid ever again. How did he or she become so unpleasant? Where did your sweet baby go? If you need to, just pull up some videos of happy memories and remind yourself what joy motherhood usually brings you. This is a sucky week or two — most likely with zero video footage taken — but it will be over soon.
  • Get sunshine and fresh air, if you can. We live in Western Washington, where sunshine is sometimes not accessible. However, we were “lucky” enough to get sick before the weather turned too chilly or gray. When I thought I couldn’t take another second indoors as the four walls seemed to close in on me, I would take a baby to snuggle on the front porch as I basked in the sun and lived vicariously through the neighborhood children laughing and playing carelessly, and the cars driving by going about their daily routines. I was even able to engage in faraway conversation with neighbors to get my “adult conversation cup” filled.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Of course, this can be tricky when you’re trying to avoid getting others sick. You won’t want to ask people to care for your sick children, but you can ask for help in other ways. For instance, I had a friend offer to bring food, and I took her up on it without hesitation. We all needed to eat, but I didn’t have the energy or appetite to make anything of substance. Another idea could be asking a friend to take one of your children who is not sick out of the house to give them a change of scenery (and you, a small break). You may have signed up to volunteer at or bring food to an event. Ask someone if they can fill in for you. If you work remotely or have deadlines to meet, ask for an extension. You will be surprised at how understanding people can be.

And … as much as I would like to, I will refrain from adding “pass lollipop around the family at first symptoms” on this list because that is probably not considered best practice, but it might secretly be on my own personal list.

Blog Brigade unites military spouses by creating a community built on shared experiences and mutual support. Navigating the complexities of military life can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Military OneSource offers valuable resources focused on well-being, readiness, and connection. Explore a range of parenting resources and tools tailored to your needs.

Young woman walking up college stairs

7 Important Documents Your Senior Needs Before College

With college decisions made, it’s time for you and your newly minted adult to collect the documents needed to start college. You probably already realize that official paperwork changes after they turn 18, and your parental authority only goes so far. Although your student might not need every document outlined below, they’re worth discussing, especially in emergencies. Gathering these documents isn’t a quick process, so plan months ahead to be ready for school.

1. GI Bill Transfer and Certificate of Eligibility

You’ve probably transferred GI Bill benefits to your child at this point in senior year. It’s a good idea to confirm the transfer so you can move on to obtaining the Certificate of Eligibility and send it to the school your child enrolls in. None of the payment processes can start until the school verifies that your student has benefits.

The student starts the application process and needs their own VA.gov account unless they’re under 18 and haven’t graduated from high school, in which case the sponsor applies. These resources provide more details.

2. Driver’s License, Military ID or Passport

You’ll want to ensure that at least one of these documents doesn’t expire while your child is at school. Updating them before they leave avoids a lot of hassle, especially if they attend school out of state. An updated military ID also makes accessing TRICARE services much easier.

My husband was recently notified through his .mil email that our dependent IDs expire in 90 days. We were offered the opportunity to renew online, which was so exciting — no coordinated trip to the ID office needed! We’re supposed to have new IDs in the mail in 30 days or less. Military OneSource has great resources to help you get or renew an ID card for you or someone in your family.

3. Social Security Card and Birth Certificate

Make copies of these documents to send with your freshman to school (unless your school requires originals). It’s difficult to replace these if they get lost, so storing originals at their permanent address is a smart choice. Remind them to keep these copies safe at school; identity theft is a common problem.

4. Medical and Immunization Records

If you’re like me, you already dread rounding up all your student’s pertinent medical documents. Chances are high that their college wants a copy of their immunization records. Having medical records and prescriptions readily available is helpful if your student has ongoing medical circumstances.

5. Family Education Rights and Privacy Act Waiver

You might recognize FERPA from the Common App during the application process. You’ll need a FERPA waiver if you want access to academic records like grades and disciplinary records, even if you pay the tuition. The school should have a copy of FERPA to sign; it’s likely part of the enrollment process.

6. HIPAA Release Form

Have a conversation with your child about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It restricts health care providers from sharing patient information without their knowledge or consent, so parents can’t see medical care records. You might already be familiar with this working with TRICARE.

The HIPAA release is used in case of emergency so parents can authorize care and handle claims. Your state has HIPAA forms, but your student might also need one for their out-of-state school. If your child’s college doesn’t provide access to these forms, your local JAG office should point you in the right direction.

No one wants to imagine the worst-case scenario, but you may also want to discuss power of attorney to legally help your child manage financial affairs if they are incapacitated. Additionally, an advance directive addresses life-extending medical treatment options.

7. Insurance for Property at School

Laptops and tablets are just the start of costly items housed in dorms and apartments. If your homeowner’s policy doesn’t cover your child’s belongings at school, you may want to consider a separate renter’s policy. Many schools offer inexpensive policies to the student body. This option may also be shown during enrollment.

Time flies fast during senior year, so don’t leave these documents for the last minute. If everything is ready, you will feel better about leaving after move-in day.

Blog Brigade unites military spouses by creating a community built on shared experiences and mutual support. Navigating the complexities of military life can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Military OneSource offers valuable resources focused on well-being, readiness, and connection. Explore a range of education and employment resources and tools tailored to your needs.

Children in a museum

Spring Break Fun: Military Family Edition

Duty stations can be hit or miss, but whether you are planning a trip away or staying local for spring break, military families know how to make the most of every situation. I want to share the value of taking advantage of “local” entertainment and planning a few staycations.

When my family was stationed in Virginia, Washington, DC, was a day trip away. We spent many days exploring the state and visiting nearby areas. I like to think that we became long-term tourists in the places we called home, thanks to military orders. If we are lucky enough to have a week off during spring break, that makes it even better! Grab your pen, paper or phone, and let’s plan a week of family fun together.

First things first, I want you to dust off that duty station bucket list. Take a moment to review it and look for something you haven’t done yet, or perhaps something you think your family would want to do again. For my family, that would probably consist of a few touristy adventures and day trips exploring spots in the city or nearby areas. Maybe you could visit a museum, a park or catch brunch at a favorite restaurant you’ve been meaning to try. You could also head to that water park that is finally open for the season or let the kids pick what y’all do for the day. My teenager would 100% plan a day of sleeping in, brunch and hitting up arcades with his friends. Meanwhile, my 5-year-old would likely either be up before the sun, ready to head to a toy store or a children’s museum. My 3-year-old, of course, would love to go to the park. Luckily, being stationed in San Diego, there is no shortage of parks that fit the bill.

Museum

Don’t forget to visit your local MWR for discounted attraction tickets and to see if there are any events that are being held on the base that are family friendly. You might even stumble upon the base’s outdoor and party rental shop, which could help you check off that visit to a national park you’ve been meaning to explore. I mean, who wouldn’t want to go camping and roast marshmallows under a sky lit by stars so bright you feel like you could touch them? Hopefully, I have your planning wheels spinning, and you’ll spend your days making core memories. Until next time, y’all!

Blog Brigade unites military spouses by creating a community built on shared experiences and mutual support. Navigating the complexities of military life can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Military OneSource offers valuable resources focused on well-being, readiness, and connection. Explore a range of recreation and travel resources tailored to your needs.

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