Stay-at-Home Dads Coping with being Sick

Stay-at-home dad is often considered a job title. It comes with numerous built-in benefits. But many of the working world perks are missing. There are no 15-minute breaks or paid vacations. And there are definitely are no sick days – one which most SAHDs will need at least a few times a year.

That can be a huge issue when the at-home dad does come down with something. So how does a stay-at-home dad deal with being sick and still making sure the house is in order?

Be Flexible

Routines are important for getting young ones through the day. But if you have come down with a cold, and likely one of them gave it to you, so they could still be recovering as well, there may be a need to not stick to a rigid schedule.

If it is not urgent to get to the store or run other errands, don’t. If the kids can survive without hitting the playgroup this week, take a break so that you aren’t so taxed.

Finally, don’t be afraid to temporarily lower your standards a bit, if only for health’s sake.

Maybe let the kids watch some extra TV so that you too can rest on the couch. Give them a little extra playtime out in the yard if it helps keep them occupied. Try to see if they’ll accept a little more quiet time to help dad out. They may be sympathetic to your plight, but don’t completely count on it.

Get Help, If You Can

If available, call on a close relative or friend. Hopefully they can come over and give you a spell so you can steam in the shower, take a nap or go to the doctor.

Better yet, see if they can take the kids somewhere to get them out of the house and keep them active. Let the children blow off steam somewhere else so that your headache doesn’t get worse.

It also is possible that your spouse may be able to add some flexible hours or work from home so that she can be around a little more during the tough time and you can get well.

Any little bit of help will be beneficial, even if it is just an hour so you can let the fever reducer kick in.

Suck it Up

Life has to go on, especially when a SAHD doesn’t feel well. Kids will still be kids and the household still needs to be managed. There may be nothing you can do to get a break, so take some Tylenol and hope for the best.

Use old stand-bys like trying to get rest in when the kids are napping. Make soup for lunch. Drink plenty of fluids.

Once your wife gets home for the day, don’t feel bad about letting her take over from there so that you can try to beat the illness. It doesn’t do her any good to have a sick partner, either.

Do what you can to get through it without affecting the family that much. Complaining probably isn’t going to get you anywhere, even if the kids are sympathetic.

And just like you tell the kids when they are sick, make sure you cover your mouth when you cough and wash your hands a lot to try and keep the bug from spreading any further.