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November 5, 2013 by: Shell

Pour Your Heart Out: When Kids Are Sick

Whenever one of my boys is sick, I have this running internal commentary.

Oh, he’ll be just fine, just wait it out. Let him rest, plenty of fluids, monitor his symptoms, but it will pass.

But what if it’s something really serious?

Well, it doesn’t seem serious.

But how can you tell? There are so many things that could be really wrong that won’t be detected unless he’s tested for them.

Well, yeah, but there don’t seem to be anything real to worry about yet, let’s wait it out a bit.

Okay, but what if it’s something serious and we wait and then the doctor yells at you because “WHY did you wait a few days to bring him in? It’s too late to do anything now.”

Well, if it’s that dire, you’ll probably know before a few days pass.

But what if I don’t know and it’s serious and only a doctor visit on the first day would have helped?

Uh, and then what if you take him in on day one and the doctor just rolls his eyes and tells you it’s a cold and to let him rest and get plenty of fluids? Because that’s probably all this is.

BUT WHAT IF IT’S NOT?

My gut reaction when I have a sick kid is to let them rest and not to worry too much about it. But ohmygoodness does my paranoia set in, worrying that maybe I should actually be worrying.

How do you handle it when your kids are sick?

Last Week’s Pour Your Heart Out Highlights

Thanks to everyone who links up for Pour Your Heart Out. I’m highlighting three posts from the previous week and I hope you take the time to check them out, along with visiting some of this week’s linkers.

  • In the Eye from 154 Hidden Court. “‘What did you every even buy that?  It looks awful on you.’  ‘HA!  1998 called – it wants it’s clothes back.'”
  • Poor People Lean the Rules of Using Welfare from Lizard Lollies. <- Read all the way through this with an open mind. At first, I thought it was going to have to be the first time I ever took someone’s head off who had linked for Pour Your Heart Out. But she gets to her point at the end.
  • 50/50 Feels Good from Tidbits from the Queen of Chaos. “I know some of you are shouting, ‘That’s the way it should be!’ I agree but in this house, that isn’t always the case.”

Join in Pour Your Heart Out

pour your heart out Click if you want to find out more about Pour Your Heart Out. Remember, it’s about what you want to pour out: it’s personal, so there isn’t an assigned topic. It’s also about being supportive of others who are sharing: so visit other linkers and be kind with your comments. Linking up? (or even if you are just here to visit) Please visit at least two of the linkers and show them some support in the form of a comment or a share!



I Have to Quit You
What He Needed Most: Things They Can’t Say

Comments

  1. Heather says

    November 5, 2013 at 10:04 pm

    For some reason when my kids have fevers in the back of my mind I’m so worried it’s meningitis. It doesn’t make sense, not the slightest bit rational, but it’s still this nagging little worry.
    Thanks for the link back – almost put a warning at the start of the post so no one got so angry they quit reading, but decided against it. I wanted to people see the ridiculousness of that type of thinking.

    • Shell says

      November 6, 2013 at 1:49 pm

      I think it was more effective to write it the way you did, without the warning. 😉

  2. Lucy says

    November 6, 2013 at 1:08 am

    I don’t have an answer because I have the same running commentary. We pour our hearts into our little ones and it’s a scary, scary thing. But what choice do we have? Thanks for writing about this. Every mama needs reassurance that she’s not the only crazy one. 

    • Shell says

      November 6, 2013 at 1:49 pm

      We all worry. It’s so hard to know what to do sometimes!

  3. Jennifer Hall says

    November 6, 2013 at 1:16 am

    I do the same thing when mine are sick. My husband gets paranoid when they seem especially thirsty, because that’s a symptom of diabetes. Guess it’s just part of being a parent.

    • Shell says

      November 6, 2013 at 1:49 pm

      I always worry I’ll miss something major like an appendix bursting or something.

  4. Alison says

    November 6, 2013 at 1:25 am

    I have a very similar internal dialogue when my kids are sick. I usually wait it out, and I’d say that my instincts have been 50/50 🙂 

    • Shell says

      November 6, 2013 at 1:56 pm

      We usually end up waiting it out. Though one time when I took my other two in because they seemed really bad off, my oldest was complaining that he was sick too. I sort of rolled my eyes but thought whatever, as long as I’m taking these two, I’ll take him, too. Yeah, he had strep. Oops.

  5. MJ says

    November 6, 2013 at 6:18 am

    I do exactly the same thing when one of my kids is sick.  Of course.  And if there’s any sort of strange symptom that I’m not exactly used to, it’s all I can do not to turn toDr. Google for answers.  Don’t ever do that, by the way.  Thanks for featuring my post from last week! 

    • Shell says

      November 6, 2013 at 1:56 pm

      Dr Google is awful! I try my hardest not to google.

  6. Herchel S says

    November 6, 2013 at 6:21 am

    I am the opposite. I usually bring them to the doctor. It would probably be different if I was homeschooling them or a SAHM. I worry that my son will get other children sick when he’s ill. I tried to ride out the fever only once with him….and it turned out that he had strep so bad that it became scarlet fever. My pediatrician yelled at me that time and the time I brought them both in for flu shots and his temp was 104. I had no idea. He didn’t complain and he was playing normally. He had the flu!

    • Shell says

      November 6, 2013 at 1:58 pm

      I’ll keep them home if they have fevers or anything that seems like it could spread- I just don’t always take them to the doctor right away. One of mine had scarlet fever once, too- though with that, the crazy rash was a good indication that I needed to get him in!

  7. Cynedra says

    November 6, 2013 at 7:08 am

    In this instance, I’m like you. I wait but worry. However, it seems when I do take them to the doctor within a few weeks they become sick again. You can pick up as many illnesses in the doctors’ office as the kids pick up at school.

    • Shell says

      November 6, 2013 at 1:58 pm

      That’s true. We have to sit in the “sick” waiting area- and then they just end up getting something else!

  8. Shannon@MishmashMama says

    November 6, 2013 at 8:39 am

    I LOVED that post from LizardLollies. So so good. I have been told I don’t worry enough when my kids are sick. After dealing with NICU and open heart surgery, nothing seems like a big deal anymore.

    • Shell says

      November 6, 2013 at 1:59 pm

      Wasn’t it so good? She really had me going there for a little bit.

      I bet! It’s just the sniffles, no big deal!

  9. Emmy says

    November 6, 2013 at 9:43 am

    Yes!  Totally do the doctor debate!  It is sad when I break down and do decide to take them I find myself hoping something is wrong enough that I was justified in bringing them.  

    • Shell says

      November 6, 2013 at 2:00 pm

      Ha! I’ve had the same thoughts!

      There’s only been once when we took two of my boys into the emergency room. My middle son had a fever of 104.7 and it seemed like it was climbing. He was so out of it. And at the same time, my youngest had a more moderate temp but this bizarre rash all over him.

      ER tells us that one with a fever is fine, just his body fighting through it, not to worry. And youngest’s weird rash completely disappeared by the time that we got called back. I felt silly for bringing them in.

  10. Natalie says

    November 6, 2013 at 9:51 am

    Same here. I’m sure our pediatrician thinks I’m a hypochondriac! But when I wait (as he tells me to do) 7-10 days for those colds to go away, the kids already have bronchitis or ear infections or whatever…. It’s hard to gauge it. I’m sure by the time we figure it out, the kids will be grown 🙂

    • Shell says

      November 6, 2013 at 2:01 pm

      That’s a long time to wait! I usually give them two days to just rest (unless it’s something extreme) and then will call on day 3 if they aren’t improving.

  11. Marjorie says

    November 6, 2013 at 9:55 am

    Oh, I SO relate to this. My son gets sick A LOT. Plus he has baby asthma, so I am constantly wondering when to go to the doctor, worrying if he’s going to have a breathing attack. 

    • Shell says

      November 6, 2013 at 2:02 pm

      Oh, that would be so rough! Poor baby!

  12. Stacey says

    November 6, 2013 at 10:48 am

    I think that whole worry thing must be innate for Mothers. I do the same thing with booboos. If a kid yells at me from the deep recesses of the house that they are injured, then I tell them they will be fine. But what if they aren’t fine? What if they really broke an arm or something? I totally understand!!

    • Shell says

      November 6, 2013 at 2:02 pm

      Oh, I know! Mine will fall and I’ll tell them suck it up, you’re okay. But one of these times, it will be a broken bone.

  13. Chris Carter says

    November 6, 2013 at 12:26 pm

    I usually spiral down even farther- as history has tormented my perspective for life I think. Ugh. There is always so much uncertainty isn’t there? I always go back to the past record, and I remind myself that things always unfold as they should in perfect time and with the perfect help when needed. Trust that. And trust your gut- even when it’s shaky, it’s usually always right! XO

    • Shell says

      November 6, 2013 at 2:03 pm

      It’s hard not to do that downward spiral- especially if we have others around us who have had it worse(or if we have). So far, my gut has served me pretty well, but I still worry!

  14. Adrienne says

    November 6, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    I hate when my kids are sick. I can totally relate to this. I try to let it go and often even have them do a little bit of school, b/c we can. Then, I worry I’m taking it seriously. 

    • Shell says

      November 6, 2013 at 2:04 pm

      A benefit of homeschooling that I never thought about!

  15. Amber says

    November 6, 2013 at 2:37 pm

    I try to just let my kids rest when they are sick. I try not to panic unless their temperature gets incredibly high. But basically I just let them rest and I’ll give them baths, because that seems to soothe them. 

  16. Roxanne says

    November 6, 2013 at 6:07 pm

    I’m the opposite of this. I always figure he’s overreacting to everything. One of these days it will be serious and I’ll have completely ignored it.

  17. Julia says

    November 6, 2013 at 7:50 pm

    I am the exact same way when my son is sick. I’m always questioning myself and second guessing. My husband is worse he calls his mom (an rn) at the first signs of illness and then they both generally freak out.

  18. Simply Stavish says

    November 6, 2013 at 10:42 pm

    Oh you mean my thoughts when my kids are sick are normal?  Other people have this dialouge in their heads too?  As if your worst nightmare is about to come true at anytime…it’s sure terrifying.  Especially when one of my babies spikes a fever or starts throwing up.  My first thought is “oh no, a brain tumor.”  Ugh!  

  19. Natalie says

    November 6, 2013 at 10:49 pm

    Can’t we just make a pact with God to not let kids get sick? I think that would be a great idea…I hate having kids sick…and so hard to know when they are serious sick or just need to sleep it off.

  20. Tammy says

    November 6, 2013 at 11:01 pm

    I think we have to go with our gut.  Unfortunately for me, I went with my gut and Emily actually had a serious kidney issue.  Talk about mom guilt.  She hadn’t been in much pain until I took her to the ER so I guess you just have to do what feels right, and not beat yourself up for it.

  21. Making It Work Mom says

    November 6, 2013 at 11:06 pm

    I am definitely a let’s ride out it Mom. Fortunately my kids don’t get sick too often, unfortunately when they do it’s usally something big. And I have been bitten more than once for riding it out too long. Shame on me you would think I would learn. Hope your boys feel better!

  22. Single Mom in the South says

    November 9, 2013 at 7:15 am

    Pretty much the same way. WAtch and wait. Fortunately, I have a pretty good track record for instinct on doctor’s visits. We rarely go for sick visits, but when we do, I’m usually correct that it was something bigger than rest would handle!

Welcome to Things I Can't Say: Tips and Tales from an Introverted Mom. I'm Shell. Boy mom, beach girl, bookworm, ball games, baker, brand ambassador, Thinking yoga, food, and travel should start with "b," too. Finding the easiest way to do some things while overthinking so many others. Read More…

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