Flu season...cough, cough

Flu season.  Cold season.  Everywhere you go, someone (friend, family or complete stranger), is sneezing, coughing, moaning, throwing up or showing you in disgusting ways just how widespread all these nasty viruses are this year.  As I write this, I am curled up on my couch, wrapped in a cuddly blanket, coughing and sniffing.  Ugh.

Poor little guy isn't feeling well  :(

When it comes to your kids, often it's very obvious that they are sick.  When they are listless, feverish, throwing up or their noses are dripping all over the place, there is no question that something is wrong.  What isn't so clear is when they wake up in the morning and say their tummy hurts or their head aches.  You hate to send them off to school and have the school nurse give you a call in a couple hours telling you that your child threw up.  On the other hand, you don't want them to get the idea that all they have to do is tell you that they don't feel well and they get to spend the day at home, watching movies, playing video games and eating special treats.

With my children, I followed the example of my wise mother and the way she dealt with me as a child.  It was fairly common for me to use any excuse possible to avoid going to school.  :)  I tried everything.  And she calmly and firmly told me that if I was too sick to go to school, I was too sick to play, watch tv, have friends over or go anywhere.  No fun for me that day and only bland, boring food.  If I were truly sick, those things didn't matter anyway but if I was faking it, it was a fitting punishment for me.

Trust your instincts on this one.  Take your children to the doctor if they exhibit severe or extreme symptoms.  Keep them at home if they might spread their illness to others.  And don't be taken in by little con artists who don't want to go to school.  :)