It happens every time.
One kid comes down with it, and you already know it's going to make it's way through the family, one by one.
But does it have to?
I'm gonna go ahead and say no.
One, cause facts.
And two, cause I've been able to stop that from happening in my family of six plenty of times!
Great news, right!?
But how?
Here's what I do when someone's got the ickies to prevent sharing.
1. Sharing isn't caring.
Don't let siblings share things! It seems to go without saying, but when you live together it's hard to even realize where we are being exposed. The ick-carrying kiddo gets their own bathroom, their own chair/couch, and preferably their own room until all better.
2. Treat everyone the same.
It took me a few years of natural living to figure this one out! The minute I realize one child needs immune system support, I give it to them...plus I give it to everyone else, too. The sooner I can boost them, the less time they will be down with "it" too.
3. Skip screens and sleep
I'm sure you already know the negative effects of "too much screen." The blue light tricks the brain into thinking it shouldn't sleep, and sleep is what a body needs to fight illness! Important immune system work is done during sleep. This tip stops spreading by speeding up recovery. The sooner the ick is gone, the better!
If you need entertainment, help them use their ears while resting their eyes!
Listen to music
Listen to a kid's podcast
Audiobooks
Let them take a detox bath
4. Purify the air
Separating the sick one helps a ton, but even so, sharing the air spreads ick, and there are other benefits to purifying air too, like making breathing pleasant, scenting the room safely and repelling bugs. We use Young Living Purification blend in the diffuser of every room of the house when someone is sick. It has Lemongrass in it, which is a powerful anti-ick plant that I use in my homemade Hand & Surface Purifier. The atmosphere it creates can't be beat-nor can the benefits!
Do these look like things you can do when one of your kids comes down with something?
For months she has had and worn this dress, but only today made this discovery.
When she found the pockets, her little face broke out into a mile-wide smile and she exclaimed, "Mommy! God saved these pockets to surprise me with them! I really like them! Do you? He just gave them to me."
Her perspective hit my heart deep. She wasn't disappointed that she hadn't been enjoying the pockets up until now. She wasn't so distracted as to not appreciate the discovery.
She was aware of the goodness of her Father, who had hidden this sweet thing away for her. Just recognizing His presence and attention towards her brought such depth and blessing to so simple a thing.
I don't think it would have been as special or sweet if she had known about these pockets from day one of owning the dress.
Receiving the pockets later gave it meaning- a lovely little surprise that He had set aside for today, to remind her He loves her and is thinking about her.
Sometimes, I think, we wrongly determine that because we don't yet have something we desire, that He is withholding it from us. This little lesson reminded me this is not the case.
Proverbs 25:2 says, "It is God's privilege to conceal things, and the king's privilege to discover them."
And sometimes, I think we are so concerned with other matters, we forget to recognize that He is literally with us every moment...a doting Father wanting to surprise and delight us.
Thank you for the lesson today my sweet girl! Your mommy and daddy love you, but your Father loves you even more.
When she found the pockets, her little face broke out into a mile-wide smile and she exclaimed, "Mommy! God saved these pockets to surprise me with them! I really like them! Do you? He just gave them to me." Her perspective hit my heart deep. She wasn't disappointed that she hadn't been enjoying the pockets up until now. She wasn't so distracted as to not appreciate the discovery.
She was aware of the goodness of her Father, who had hidden this sweet thing away for her. Just recognizing His presence and attention towards her brought such depth and blessing to so simple a thing.
I don't think it would have been as special or sweet if she had known about these pockets from day one of owning the dress.
Receiving the pockets later gave it meaning- a lovely little surprise that He had set aside for today, to remind her He loves her and is thinking about her.
Sometimes, I think, we wrongly determine that because we don't yet have something we desire, that He is withholding it from us. This little lesson reminded me this is not the case.
Proverbs 25:2 says, "It is God's privilege to conceal things, and the king's privilege to discover them."
And sometimes, I think we are so concerned with other matters, we forget to recognize that He is literally with us every moment...a doting Father wanting to surprise and delight us.
Thank you for the lesson today my sweet girl! Your mommy and daddy love you, but your Father loves you even more.
"Lord, thank you for hiding away the sweetest gifts for me to discover. I ask you to help me be more aware of your presence and constant interaction in my life. I want to know what you are doing, and participate in whatever way you want me to. Speak, Lord, I'm listening!"
This is what they're like in photos...
and this is what they're like, actually.🤪
When I was pregnant with Alice, a big prayer on my heart was the she and her big brother would be best friends.
One day while driving in the car with 1.5 year old Calvin in the back and Alice in my belly, I felt the presence of God rush through.
As I opened my mouth to pray to respond to it, Calvin started talking instead.
"My baby, fun. My baby love. Play baby!"
He, a baby himself, was kicking his legs and smiling as he said it.
I started to cry because the Lord showed me that He was revealing to my toddler that his sister was a gift, a blessing and an honor.
God speaks to babies!!!
Two days after she was born, the midwife was leaving the appointment room but suddenly turned around, looked straight in my eyes very authoritatively and said, "Oh and THEY (pointing to them) are going to be best friends their whole lives. I see that on them" and then just left.
God has taught me so many things through raising my children, but one thing I hope you, mama, will walk away from with this one.
I believe with all my heart that siblings are intended to be blessings to each other.
They're on purpose.
Their personalities, giftings, preferences, and desires are chosen by God to work together with each other and fit like a puzzle. Each piece alone isn't enough to create the ideal landscape: but together they bring clarity and form beauty.
And I believe my job as a mother, isn't just teaching them conflict resolution and sharing.
I believe it's to teach them to honor, appreciate and ENJOY each other.
This is a cry from my heart that I believe any mother can pray and receive.
When I learned the power of asking God to speak to me regarding my children...when I learned He always says, "Okay....." and gives insight and wisdom....it changed everything.
Print it out, write it up, read it, say it, but don't go another day, Mama, without receiving His divine help!
"God, in Jesus name I thank you for creating my family perfectly in your divine wisdom. Help me to see the unique purpose in my childrens' similarities AND differences. Reveal those things to me AND to my children. Give me wisdom in guiding their interactions so they honor you and each other. Show me what you are doing and what you are saying to my children, so that I may cooperate with you. Speak, Lord! Your servant is listening. I trust you!"
