Parenting small children is always a challenge. However, parenting small children when you, the caretaker, are sick – well, that’s a whole other thing. It’s a pretty common joke that “parents don’t get sick days.” (Do we call it a joke if it’s not funny?) And so, we must enter into survival mode until we can get back on our feet.

This week, I got walloped with a virus. And since I’m the stay-at-home parent to a ten-month-old and four-year-old, I needed some tricks to get me through the days when getting off the couch was a struggle. So here are some ideas for when you’d like to curl up into your pile of tissues but, unfortunately, have small people depending on you for survival.

1. Plan Ahead Before You’re Sick

I’m not good at this. I’m more of a “deal with it when we get to it” kind of Mom. However, there are a few things you should have in your home because you never know when you’ll wake up feeling horrendous. For starters, make sure you have medications for yourself ready to go. My medicine cabinet is filled with remedies for my kids, so I have whatever I need on hand. Yet when Andy or I need something, we kinda shrug like, “Guess one of us needs to go to Target.” You matter, too! So next time you’re at Target (undoubtedly getting something for your kids), toss some adult cold/flu meds in your red cart so you have them.

Also, have an exciting bin of toys that only comes out when Mom is sick. You can go about this any way you want. If they’re little enough, pick some of their current toys and tuck them away. When the toys come back out, they’ll be novel and intriguing. If your kiddos are older and stealing their toys won’t work, take a quick trip to the dollar store. You’ll be able to create a very affordable “Mommy Doesn’t Want to Parent You Today Kit” in no time.

As I said, planning ahead is not my forte. But I usually have some Christmas present I couldn’t find at Christmas stashed away somewhere, so I whip that out. Or a gift for a nephew that I never sent. Anything goes!

2. Lower Your Standards

Now, this is my time to shine. We’ve all read the studies that screen time is melting their little brains and chipping away at their chances at Harvard. And daily, yes, we should all be aware of how much time our littles spend in front of a screen. However, when you’re wrapped up like a sick burrito on the couch, and the 15th episode of Paw Patrol keeps your kiddo content, go for it. Giving your kids extra screen time to get through this will not cause irreparable damage. If your kids are happy and quiet, and you can scroll Instagram while tossing back ibuprofen, all is well.

There’s another area where you can lower your standards, too! The daily menu. Once again, our kids need to be exposed to a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and lean proteins at mealtime. This is a fact. But can they have dry Cheerios for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the same day and still be okay? Yes, they can. And they probably won’t discuss it in therapy in 15 years, either. Frankly, my kid is thrilled with dry Cheerios no matter the meal.

3. Be Energy Efficient

Gather everything (and everyone) you need and keep it in the room you want to spend the day in. This will most likely be the living room since a couch and a TV are imperative for survival. But do you have diapers and wipes in there? Or maybe some of the kids’ favorite toys? Keeping the kids’ stuff, the baby’s stuff and your stuff all in the same room will limit your need to get off the couch. And really, that is the primary goal of this article.

When you reach the kitchen, see if there are any easily accessible snacks. So that when you sit back down on the couch, and 30 seconds later, your kiddo inevitably says, “I’m hungry!” you can direct them where to go.

4. Enlist Help

This is tricky since people outside the house generally don’t want to come into a germ circus. But there are other ways to get help. Need DayQuil? Ask a friend to grab some and do a porch drop-off. See if your neighbor will walk your dog. Ask your parents to drop off dinner for your kids. In general, people want to help, so give them the option.

If you have a partner who works outside the home, ensure they set you up for success before they go. They can get the kids breakfast. They can make sure you have everything you need for the day. They can get you a glass of orange juice. Just communicate clearly what you need.

There’s also the possibility of getting your kids to help by appealing to their empathy. I hesitate to give this advice in case you have a toddler or preschooler who hasn’t mastered this skill yet. It can be disheartening to explain how sick and weak you are only to be met with a demand for a Popsicle. (Or so I’ve heard.) But this could also be a good learning experience for them—a time to work on their compassion and independence.

5. And Finally, Take Care of Yourself

This is important. Treat yourself the same way you treat your sick kids. Make sure you’re hydrated. Eat snacks if you’re up to it. Keep up on your medications. Consider whether or not you should see a doctor, even though that is wildly inconvenient for everyone. The more you tend to yourself, the faster this will pass.

And please, go easy on yourself. Being sick is never fun. So make it work however you can. You got this.