Check out the podcast version of this episode here!
Hello beautiful homemakers!
As most of you know I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus in terms of posting consistent content. Life has surely thrown me for a loop recently and I needed some time to get my life in order. One day I’ll dive into this more, but I spent time pursuing “influencer life” when my oldest was a newborn, and I truly regret it. Ladies, the internet is such a fleeting space & we need to ensure our priorities are in order before we pursue things like blogging, instagram & other side-hustles!
Am I officially back? I think so! I’ve taken much-needed time to rest, reflect, & implement some new routines (which I intend on sharing). I appreciate your patience & understanding so very much!
So, speaking of being thrown for loops, my family was recently hit with a stomach virus! Yikes! This has never happened to us before. My children are young, but so far all we’ve dealt with are things like croup/respiratory infections. Wow, did I learn a lot & wanted to share some things with you!
Assume You Will Get Sick
Of course we should do what we can to NOT get sick (wash hands, don’t share drinks, etc) but when you’re swimming in vomit-soaked laundry at 3am, it’s highly likely that you’re the next victim. Not only did I get sick, but I think I had it the worst of my whole family! My MIL said she knew it was bad because as soon as she arrived I fled the scene and left no instruction! She looked at my 3 y/o and 1 y/o and said, “Well, have you two had dinner?” Yikes!!
Anywho, luckily I’ve been into freezer-prepping meals lately, plus no one had much of an appetite any way to do said virus. But my point in all of this is anytime someone gets sick in the house I try to assume that I’m next. That I’m going to be out for a few days. What can you do to prepare? Freezer meals, let your mom or MIL know you might need help, catch up on laundry, buy some paper plates, etc!
Minimalism is Not Ideal for Homemakers
If you feel threatened by this statement, then you’re the problem! Minimalism has some very helpful principals, but many have become legalistic with it & even treat it like their religion. I almost got rid of my extra set of crib sheets per another influencer’s recommendation. Along with many of my extra towels & blankets. I’m so glad I decided to keep them! As homemakers, we want to bless our families but also bring others into our home & bless them, too! Giving up on minimalism has been so refreshing to me. I love being “allowed” to buy things for my home just because they’re beautiful. I love having extras of certain things and feeling prepared for guests at any moment.
So yes, do get rid of that extra toaster oven sitting in your garage collecting dust, but don’t feel like a hoarder because you have a comfortable amount of towels, sheets, blankets, coffee mugs, etc!
The Couch Test & Towel Stacking
I’m slowly reading through Leila Lawler’s Summa Domestica Series and I found many of her practical tips on handling sickness in the family to be oh-so-helpful this week. Namely, her “couch test” & “towel stacking” tips. (She also has a lot of this info on her blog which you can check out here!)
The couch test is simple and I used it on my almost 3 year old. When a child comes to you, whining & saying they do not feel good — you tell them to go lay on the couch. If they stay there (assuming there is no TV on) for a bit, chances are they actually are unwell & not just tired/fussy/grumpy/etc! This worked well for us & I knew within minutes my usually very energetic & chatty daughter didn’t feel well when I asked her to lay on the couch and she happily complied…proceeding to cover herself up with a blanket and lay there miserably. Poor thing!
Towel stacking might come as a no-brainer to seasoned mamas, or those with bigger brains than I. I however, went through an embarrassing amount of sheets & blankets before I realized I could stack several towels under my daughter (both when she was in our bed & sleeping in hers at night). So after a vomit-session, you can just peel away a few towels and throw them in the wash. (See, aren’t you glad you kept all of your extra towels now, too? 😉 )
Ladies, I’m sure there is much more I need to know about handling stomach viruses as a homemaker, or any sickness for that matter! Let me know your best tips in the comments so we can all scroll through and be more prepared for next time.
So much love & blessings to you all!
-Chandler