15 parents who are barely surviving sick season with kids

Nicole Fabian-Weber

Jan. 14, 2020

It’s here, everyone! Sick season is in full-swing! A cold? The flu? A nasty stomach bug? Who knows what your household will come down with this year?! But one thing is all but certain: When you have kids, some sort of virus will make its way through your family, and it won’t be pretty.

From calls from school nurse to parenting a sick kid in the middle of the night, 15 parents wax poetic on the hell that is sick season with kids.

1. You OK over there?

"My dear, sweet child. I'm so very sorry you're sick." I say, across the room wearing a surgical mask, while patting her with a 10 ft pole.
— Ash (an female) ⚪️ (@adult_mom) February 22, 2016

2. Just cancel plans from January through April.

Have kids so you can forever be trapped in the never-ending cycle of "finally getting over being sick" and "just starting to get sick again."
— Dad and Buried (@DadandBuried) April 18, 2018

3. Anyone have a glove?

Nothing is as terrifying as touching the pen in the elementary school office that parents use to check their kids out sick.
— Meredith (@PerfectPending) August 28, 2018

4. So, that’s the problem!

Before I had kids, I thought I had a great immune system, but it turns out I was just really good at staying away from the type of people who sneeze directly into your eyeballs while telling you a story.
— Lurkin' Mom (@LurkAtHomeMom) February 10, 2018

5. What a sweet ball of germs.

Congratulations on your baby. There’s a chance of being sick from now until your kid is at least 24.
— sir pierre* (@heatherlou_) February 7, 2018

6. Wait a second…

[picking up kid after school nurse called saying she was sick]

What would make you feel better, sweetie?

Going home so I can play outside.
— Simon Holland (@simoncholland) April 26, 2016

7. The silver lining.

Home sick with a nasty infection watching TV by myself while the kids are at school, and what did I do to deserve this fabulous vacation?
— Walking Outside in Slippers (@WalkingOutside) February 22, 2017

8. Two words: Murphy’s Law.

Kids can get you out of any lame social obligations, but in turn they'll always spike a fever the morning of date nights & during vacations.
— Ash (an female) ⚪️ (@adult_mom) February 22, 2017

9. When you hit your point.

~Sympathetic Parenting at 1am~

Sick Kid: "What if I puke and you don't hear me?"

Me: "Puke louder."
— Wendy S. (@maughammom) August 1, 2016

10. Hone your craft, kiddo!

My 8-year-old doesn’t understand that “I feel sick.” loses all credibility when preceded by “Is there school tomorrow?”
— Chris Hallbeck (@ChrisHallbeck) March 21, 2016

11. Hope this one has a good ending.

Went to the library with my toddler today for a book and our next virus.
— Jennifer S. White (@yenniwhite) October 13, 2016

12. When the nurse isn’t amused.

School nurse: *calls about 6-year-old* Is this her dad?

Me: If I say no, do I still have to come pick her up?

She was not amused.
— James Breakwell, Exploding Unicorn (@XplodingUnicorn) September 12, 2018

13. These are the days.

No matter how difficult parenting gets, the joy of having a sick toddler cough in your face makes it all worth it.
— mark (@TheCatWhisprer) February 14, 2017

14. Jesus take the wheel!

I like to believe I'm a good, patient, nurturing person. Then my kid gets sick and coughs incessantly and I develop an eye twitch and somebody please god help just make it stop
— Salty Mermaid Entertainment (@saltymermaident) November 16, 2017

15. And the winner is…

It’s too bad Oscar nominations have already been announced because my son gave quite the “I’m sick I can’t go to school” performance of his life this morning.
— Sarcastic Mommy (@sarcasticmommy4) February 19, 2019