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What are your expectations when everyone is sick?


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We've had a heck of a week...last Thursday, we had dh's parents, brother, and cousin come into town to spend the weekend with us. We took Friday off of school. The weekend was a crazy blur of activity, and then everyone got sick. First dd4 had fever for three days, croup, and an ER trip (in an ambulance! She thought that was cool lol) because her throat was closing. By Tuesday morning dd9 and I got it. Not croup, but a bad cold. Tuesday night, dd6 got fever and a migraine. We've spent most of the week laid up on the couch, watching tv. I've brought a stack of books down to read to them, but my throat HURTS, and I can't even read one chapter.😟 Both dd's say their eyes and head hurt when they read.😣 I've been having them do some school since wednesday-math, spelling, and history for dd9 and math, phonics, and cursive for dd6. I can see it is really really hard for them...they are just dragging, and I'm sure their little brains are foggy. Aside from how we've been feeling during the day, no one is sleeping at night. Everyone is up coughing, and as soon as I get one settled, another starts up. I literally slept (or rather, laid there with my eyes closed) sitting up with dd9 last night. I'm exhausted. They are exhausted.

So, if you've made it through that...what would your expectations be?? I feel like they are watching an awful lot of TV...we usually limit to one hour of media per day. They've missed their gymnastics classes (both are on competitive team, so they've missed six hours of practice so far, and as of tonight will have missed nine hours😣), as they are in no shape to exert themselves.

Do you think just the basics for a few more days? At this point, I'm planning on having them continue school through the weekend. At least math and spelling for dd9 and math and phonics for dd6...ugh. If they were in school, I definitely would not be sending them, so I'm trying o use that as my guide...

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You have years to learn "school stuff".  A lifetime, honestly.  Rest. Recover.  Health is WAAAAAAY more important than squeezing in a few lessons in phonics while feeling utterly miserable.  I guarantee it won't make any difference in the long run.  They will still learn, they will still graduate, etc.  :)  

 

If you can, and are interested, stream an audio book so no one has to read.  If you are feeling really guilty, watch some documentaries or some other education videos.  

 

Maybe do some bonding by having fun discussions about whatever comes to mind, if everyone is up to it.  Listen to soothing music and just lay down together.  Or if you have to, maybe just do some mini science lessons by watching a youtube video on how people get sick.

 

But spend the bulk of this time just recovering.   Don't feel guilty.  

 

 

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This has been us all week, except not quite that sick!  DS10 with virus, sore throat, headache, etc.  DS 12 with allergies and sinus gunk.  Me with same as DS 10.

 

You know what we did?  We streamed documentaries on Netflix.  Yesterday we watched one called "Tent City U.S.A." about homelessness in Nashville, and then had a good conversation afterward about homelessness, helping people, what the struggles were, short term solutions vs long term solutions, etc.   Then we watched one about YouTubers.  (The language in it was not cool, if anyone is thinking of watching.)  But it got the boys thinking about making a YouTube channel, what they would be interested in talking about, managing and scheduling it, etc.  

 

Neither documentary did much for the three R's, but both led to some great conversations and got the boys thinking about stuff.  We aren't feeling much better today so once DS12 tackles a math lesson, we are going to watch a DVD from the library called "Sister Wendy: The Complete Collection" about a nun who travels around and talks about famous artwork.  

 

I love that documentaries expose the kids to topics we just probably aren't going to cover in the course of "regular" schooling, and they like learning about everything from Mythbusters to tornadoes to World War 2 to air craft carriers, etc.  Its just...cool.  And easy!  

 

I LOVE the audio book idea OneStepAtATime!  I'm gonna file that away for our next bout with germs!

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1) Our goal is to get better; the sooner the better.

2) We use it for time to read from our stack of library books (if I am well).

3) We watch a LOT of PBS (from PBS Kids to Nova and Nature).  I love the Tivo!!!!
 

4) If you need to go lay down to sleep, then sleep is the best thing for you.  I may schedule a "lay down" time if I think the kids are too glued to the tv.  You don't need to sleep (you may read, draw, or play quietly with your stuffed animals), but you need to not bother others during rest time.

5) If you need to yarp and don't have a bowl or garbage can, then run and do it on the kitchen floor (the only floor we have that is non-carpet)!

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At that age? I would not have any expectations for ANY schoolwork at all.

I would let everybody rest and get well.

I would also not worry about "making up" missed days. I don't see the urgency. There is plenty enough time.

 

Now, in high school, I might expect the recovering student to do some light reading or listen to some lectures. But not elementary age kids.

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We've had a heck of a week...last Thursday, we had dh's parents, brother, and cousin come into town to spend the weekend with us. We took Friday off of school. The weekend was a crazy blur of activity, and then everyone got sick. First dd4 had fever for three days, croup, and an ER trip (in an ambulance! She thought that was cool lol) because her throat was closing. By Tuesday morning dd9 and I got it. Not croup, but a bad cold. Tuesday night, dd6 got fever and a migraine. We've spent most of the week laid up on the couch, watching tv. I've brought a stack of books down to read to them, but my throat HURTS, and I can't even read one chapter.😟 Both dd's say their eyes and head hurt when they read.😣 I've been having them do some school since wednesday-math, spelling, and history for dd9 and math, phonics, and cursive for dd6. I can see it is really really hard for them...they are just dragging, and I'm sure their little brains are foggy. Aside from how we've been feeling during the day, no one is sleeping at night. Everyone is up coughing, and as soon as I get one settled, another starts up. I literally slept (or rather, laid there with my eyes closed) sitting up with dd9 last night. I'm exhausted. They are exhausted.

So, if you've made it through that...what would your expectations be?? I feel like they are watching an awful lot of TV...we usually limit to one hour of media per day. They've missed their gymnastics classes (both are on competitive team, so they've missed six hours of practice so far, and as of tonight will have missed nine hours😣), as they are in no shape to exert themselves.

Do you think just the basics for a few more days? At this point, I'm planning on having them continue school through the weekend. At least math and spelling for dd9 and math and phonics for dd6...ugh. If they were in school, I definitely would not be sending them, so I'm trying o use that as my guide...

 

I'd do as little as possible and just heal. We always watched lots and lots of SpongeBob when the kids were sick.

 

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Ditto everyone else. Sick kids = no school. Now, if I'm sick but they are fine, they can read to themselves if readers, watch Leapfrog videos once per day for non-readers, listen to audiobooks, or play Legos/horses for hours.  The goal there is that the house doesn't get too messy and I get rest. Older kids can do some math and other independent subjects if I'm sick but they are doing ok.

 

Get better soon! No more school until everyone feels better.

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We've been in sick mode this whole week, too. The 4 dc all fell ill at different times and to varying degrees. At first I tried to get one or two to an activity, but by the end of the week we just stayed home and rested.  The only "school" that we did was to finish off our family read aloud. 

 

 

 

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I let all school work go when the kids are sick.  I will read a lot to them.  I will put on educational tv (and by educational, I mean Wild Kratts, Schlessinger media dvds that we rent, Magic School Bus, Bill Nye, nothing too achedemic!) They can play quietly if they are up to it.  But really, my goal is rest and recovery.  Hope you all are feeling better soon.

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I have to say that it depends on the sickness. For sickness such as the OP is describing, I'd have zero expectations. Maybe reading if they felt up to it, but otherwise, rest. Maybe listen to audio books and watch good movies if people were up to it.

 

For the run of the mill cold, where they're sniffly and maybe not as perky as usual but not completely weak and tired, I'd do at least some schoolwork. With five children, even a mild cold can take a good two weeks to work through the entire family; I can't take off from school for that long without it then affecting our ability to take off when we want to later. So I insist upon at least some work. It might be basics, but it might be the more fun things (which in my house means Latin, science projects, art).

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depends how sick! If it's just a cold we do a lighter school day and even attend swim practice.

 

If there is or has been fever in previous 24 hours we do no school, rest and stay home from all commitments including swimming and piano,

 

But after the fever has left and kids return to normal but may have sniffle or residual cough, they must do their school work and also attend commitments.

 

I follow the guidelines from the AAP on "when to keep kids home from

School" because I wavyed something objective since my tendency is to coddle my kids too much in that area. Basically if the kids are miserable with pain or they have a fever or constant productive cough they should stay home and do no schoolwork. But if they are on the upside or it was just a regular cold to begin with they do their school work albeit maybe lighter and on the couch with tea and blankets. ;)

 

When my kids were younger (up to age 10) we stayed home glr the entire duration of every illness And usually required no schoolwork. I found that it's time now at this age to learn to work through minor illnesses and to learn to be wise enough to stay home (and not work) when it is warranted. Teaching the difference hS been part of a valuable lesson. :)

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I agree with the others, it depends on the sickness. Stomach flu they rest while I usually do loads of laundry and make soup and healthy jello. Most school they would get would probably be liberty kids but I don't even expect that. I schedule out my months with 2 make-up days so we will make-up the work on those days. For a cold we keep going. I have also done a light schedule with just english and math. My oldest gets migraines sometimes so I have her lie down and do the work later if it's really bad.

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It was when I moved to the USA, that I first learned about the idea that it wasn't okay to be sick. Not to admit being sick. Not to stop. 

 

For my students it's mental health, not physical health that often stops us in our tracks, but either way we STOP, then we start adding in body and soul work, and LASTLY we worry about academics when the time is right.

 

I consider being allowed to stop and then slowly working back to being productive to be a human right, and just common sense that pays off in the long run. I tend to equate working through sickness with the extreme and negative parts of capitalism and think of it as Charles Dickens stuff. "Please, sir, can I lie down after I throw up?"

 

You might want to google "Maslow's Hierarchy".

http://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html

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I wouldn't have them do anything but rest.  There is very little actual learning going on when they are feeling that bad, so it just becomes busy work.  Watch documentaries if you must(I'd stick to cartoons), snuggle on the couch, look at picture books and do some drawing.  No school work.  You can "catch" up over time or add in at the end of the year if you really feel behind.  

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School would be skipped here. My only expectation is no TV, screens during what would have been screen time, because:

 

1. Everyone needs rest and sleep, not the stimulation of videos, games.

2. Kids sometimes fake illness a bit in order to watch TV, etc.

 

Sleep is a wonderful healer, imo.

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