Alright parents… It is that time of year again! Booger babies, the nasal drip, can’t kick this cough, always one kid sick and canceled plans time of year. Sometimes even when you’re doing all of the “right things” and immune boosting tricks your kids still get sick. Well, I don’t know about you but when I call my nurses line the tips drop off after tylenol, time and sleep. Here are a couple witchy tricks for when your kids get sick this season, and any season really.
What this is (and isn’t)…
Just a little PSA, this is not medical advice and these witchy tricks are just things that have worked for my family and I wish I would have known the first go around. I am not a doctor and I think you should consult with your doctor, nurse practitioner or other medical professional when dealing with illnesses. If you like this list you can always ask your doctor about this list and get their medical advice on these holistic remedies.
- “Just Add Water” – Water is so incredibly healing for me through my motherhood experience. There is a saying, “Just Add Water”. It rings true for any motherhood challenge I’ve been faced with really… Drink water, shower, soak in the tub, go to a lake, watch a river, listen to water, water play for the kids or bath time for the baby. Water offers up an incredible reset for me and my family. If I am moving through a stressful moment in parenting, feeling down or even need a quick pick me up I always think “Just Add Water” first. It really can get the job done fast and usually when you are postpartum it needs to happen fast. When your kids are sick, focus on drinking lots of water.
- Steam Showers with Eucalyptus Essential Oil – Step one is to get the shower really hot and steam it up in there. Splatter or Spray some eucalyptus essential oil on the walls of your shower. Close up your bathroom as best you can. Close the doors and get the whole room really steamy. You can just hang out in the steamy bathroom and read some books. Another option is to turn down the water temperature and hop in the shower and let all those boogers go down the drain.
- Hatch Light – Listening to the water sounds can be so calming for my kiddos. This is also a great tool for sleep and quiet times. It helps to set some boundaries around when it is rest time or nap time. Red means “stop” or sleep/rest and green means “go” or time to wake up/play.
- Zarbee’s Eucalyptus Chest Rub – I’m a huge fan of this product. Before bed we do a steam shower (see trick 2) and then put some of this chest rub on their back and feet. It keeps that steam shower magic going during the night.
- Superfoods – Epi-Genius Superfoods or a greens kids shake to help with micronutrients. Another option is to do smoothies or mix in your superfoods shake into smoothies. It is always so hard to get kids to eat when they are sick. This is sometimes all I can get them to eat. Who can say no to a cold chocolate flavored drink?
- Amy’s Organic Soup – In my dreams I see myself as the mom who makes her own bread, butter, homemade soup but with three sick kids it usually ends up being canned Amy’s Organic Soup. My kids favorite is the Vegetable Lentil.
- Homemade Chickpea Noodle Soup – If I have time and support (usually two parents, nanny or a grandparent over helping me) I can make a homemade soup. This is my go to! I don’t really have a recipe for this yet so I will have to create another blog post. The basics are a good vegetable broth, noodles, onion, garlic, carrots, celery and chickpeas. More to come.
- Immunity Tonics & Tinctures – There are a lot of options for this but here is my favorite. Be sure to get a “Kids” variety and check with your lactation consultant or midwife when consuming different herbal supplements. For your children, follow the directions on the bottle and you can always chat with an herbalist too.
- Get Yourself A Good Wet Vacuum – It is kind of one of those expensive purchases that you don’t really need before kids. It is bulky, expensive and not frequently used. But when you need it, you are glad you have it! All it takes is one vomit on the carpet or on the upholstered bed frame to understand.
- Screentime – Daniel Tiger & Super Readers. When my kids are sick, there is unlimited screen time going on. Sometimes it is just survival if you have to still juggle work. If you are opting for some screen time there are a lot of great educational shows and here are two of our favorites! My three and five year olds love these shows.
- VOX books or audiobooks – When it is time to give screens a break but you can’t be present to read a book. I like to rent VOX books from the library. It is an audiobook/ read along book that is super simple and easy for non readers to follow along. No CD!
- Storytime Podcasts – Search “Kids” in your podcast app and browse and find something that looks good. My kids love listening to stories. This is another great screen free option for entertainment or those busy moments when you’re trying to make a smoothie or clean carpets.
- Orange Juice & Vitamin C Foods – Peel some oranges and throw them in the blender with water and wah – la you have a natural “sugar free” orange juice. You could even put in a red bell pepper or other vitamin C rich foods.
- Elderberry – Elderberry is an incredible supplement that is kid friendly to help boost immunity. We try to take this one daily during this time of year.
Now for Mom & Dad…
- Oil of Oregano – It burns so good. But seriously, Be careful and follow the instructions on your bottle.
- Reishi & Chaga Mushrooms – I love mushrooms so much. The witchy-ist of witchy remedies. You can read about the many benefits of these mushrooms online but I will give you a little insider scoop you may not find. Mushrooms can be sensitive and don’t like the heat if you are seeking out nutritional and immune system boosting benefits. Buy in bulk and add to your chai tea, coffee, teas or warm water but not when it is hot.
- Garlic – Garlic in foods can be very helpful for improving immune system function as it is a great antioxidant and has antibacterial properties. You can even eat raw garlic if you are into that sort of thing. Desperate times, call for desperate measures.
- Sleep – It is important that you are getting good sleep that is not active-contingent on your children sleeping well. Make a plan with your partner, family or friend that can support you.
- Echinacea – This is an herb that can help with cold symptoms and upper respiratory infections. It is in most children’s immune support tinctures or you can purchase on its own or in a tea form.
- Cast a Spell (aka A Positive Attitude) – I know, I know… But seriously. If my mindset waivers at all during these intense times, the challenge just gets more challenging. I have a positive attitude and mindset around being healthy, vibrant and well. Cast the right spell into the universe! I believe that my children are getting healthy and well and that I will stay healthy and strong. Create some mantras (aka spells) for yourself and children, have a gameplan on how the day will look and what you will do for yourself during screen time or breaks in the day. This is a marathon and not a sprint. Put your to do list aside, take time off of work, ask for help and say “NO” with no shame.
YOU GOT THIS. Stay strong and ask for help.
Now, I did save the best for last. Your mind is an incredibly powerful tool. You can truly convince yourself that you are sick or heal yourself with your mind. Teach your children to have a positive mindset too. “My body is healing”, “I am getting stronger.” “This too shall pass”. Whatever that gets you through to the next moment. When I think of witchy vibes I think of confident, powerful and authentic women who have a plan and stay strong.
**This is not medical advice. Please consult with your doctor, nurse practitioner or other medical professional when dealing with illnesses.
