How to manage if I get this flu?

I’ll caveat all this with if financially possible.

Stock up on easy foods; little cheese, yoghurts, crackers. Make sure they are on shelves the kids can reach.

Buy some small bottles of water. Again put them somewhere easy to reach for the kids. A mini squash too if your kids won’t drink water. It’ll be easier for the, to distil.

Stock up on 4/5 days for you all on para and ibu. I was always amazed how quickly the liquid calpol used to run down. Put a note pad and pen with them so you can write down when everyone has a dose of something. It’s so easy to get confused when you’ve more than one to deal with and/or you are ill yourself.

Get some anti bac and soap/stock of clean towels in bathroom.

Keep chargers to hand for tablet, laptops, phones etc so there is easy screen time for them.

Keep some changes of light clothes and underwear nearby where we you set up camp.

Keep some bin bags nearby too so tissues can be thrown away after each use and not left handing about on the arm of the sofa etc.

If you don’t have online shopping set up, do so now so you can more easily get things.

Similarly with delivreoo/uber eats etc.

Make sure your kids know now how to unlock your front door if needed. Also make sure they know your address. It’s unlikely that they will need it but it’s useful anyway.

If you’ve a trusted neighbour give them a key now and make sure you’ve exchanged tel numbers with them. If no neighbour, a trusted school mum or dad.

Worrying about it isn't worth it but you can prepare in the same way as any of us. Flu jab, freezer food, medication. If you have to be sick from work it can't be helped, looking after DC call on as much help as you can, do the minimum, get them to help if possible.

We all worry with the media hype, it's like flu every year, it's awful, you will get it or you won't. If you and DC have the Flu jab hopefully all will be fine. Xxx

Its no different to covid and thats been doing the rounds again all year (i was bedridden for a week back in october) No point worrying. Its just life.

The flu jab takes quite a while to protect your body isn’t not instant and doesn’t prevent against all strains. Equally you get slightly poorly from it initially. If you are going to get the flu you will get it unfortunately. You manage as you have to. No help so it’s you and kids against the world. Make sure you have lots of meds. Plus tv / computers for children. It passes.

Children always behave so much better when mum is poorly. They understand it even at toddler age.

Dose up on paracetamol and ibuprofen and time will make you heal.

Any under 10 let any friends take them to school.

but yes you just have to deal with it like anything else …..

Also need bleatch spray as any vom / virus won’t go away without it. That’s why all these anti bacterial hand gels say 99% any sick then you need flash or what ever bleach spray to kill the bugs and virus on worktops / doorhandles etc always change hand towels frequently to parent the spread.

Uber eats etc can deliver in less than 30 mins so don’t sweat the small stuff

Lollies and jellies are good to pre stock and won't get wasted if you don't need them now. Have bottled water to hand ,thermometer and oximeter.
Tissues of course .

Parenting is keeping young DC alive when your back is against the wall in a crisis alone I wouldn't think twice about putting tv on and if you haven't got Disney I also think buying it even for a month is a good idea.

I’ve got it at moment and my mum took my daughter for 2 night sleepover so could get over the worst she’s just turned 5yrs.

Have simple easy meals available i batch cook so have been able to pull portions of soup and pasta out to defrost. Snacks and things to make sandwiches are useful. Make sure you stocked up on paracetamol, calpol, lemsip.

Do you know any school mums if asked id def help them out (or my mum would as she does most the school runs/after school for me. Or call school and let them know you really unwell and is there anyone who can come get the children as a good school wil support as much as they can. And least then they aware you unwell and unsupported.

It’s times of illness that makes life as a single parent brutal you have no option but to carry on whilst other parent would likely completely rest when they were unwell.

Weve all had the flu jab in early Oct and all got it .

Im not a single parent but we all ended up with it
We had far too much screen time. My son and I lay in bed quite literally for 4 days I took toys up into his room although he didn't use them, just watched TV . My DH had the baby . None of us wanted to eat but I ordered a load of easy/ snack things for my son. The kids throats where sore (as was mine ) so cold drinks , ice lollie or hot drinks.

Stock up on every flu medicine you can find , for you and the kids . I found boiling hot baths with magnesium salts helped for the aches . We also had to do an a&e run at one point , hopefully you wouldn't. But make sure fuel is in the car ! Fingers crossed you avoid x

I know, that's why i was asking

I'm the same, no support. I've stocked up on paracetamol and lemsip. That's all I can do. There's food in the freezer and a stock of vitamin pills. Not much else I need.

Make sure you have a medical thermometer, a charged phone, tissues, and enough stores to keep your little ones happy. Then take things slowly. It's all you can do.

If you haven't got the jab, then get one. And make a note in your calendar for next August AND Sept to make next year's appointment.
If you can afford a food order get soup, frozen ready meals etc. Yes to disposable plates and cutlery, I did that many times when mine were young.
Check your thermometer has batteries and you know where it is. Paracetamol and ibuprofen, cough syrup and throat pastilles etc.
If you can afford a milk delivery once a week it will probably give you the option to add extra items and extra days at the last minute. This got me through some really grotty winters.

If you are stuck email school and give them the heads up you really are proper poorly, there may be a member of staff that can help. I had a single parent friend who had to get the local female vicar to get her kids to school when she was very ill.

Vaccines do not work every time. Also keep in mind that the vaccine is developed months in advance - in that time flu evolves into different strains (or several strains later). Im a vaccine proponents but you cannot solely rely on vaccines when it comes to flu

People i work with had jabs but still caught it and were quite poorly with it.
Same with my kids.
Jabs do not guarantee no infection

Have their school not had the vaccine? Or is it not working much this year?

Get the flu jab, I guess. You'll still get flu, but it won't knock you for six. Vaccinations are watered down versions of the virus that encourage an immune response to take the edge off, you will still feel like crap, but you won't lose the will to live.

I got the flu jab for the first time this year because I'm pregnant, my immune system is under a load as it's protecting my baby, which then leaves me vulnerable to things like colds and flu. I'm just getting over a cold now, so what I was told checks out.

Get the flu jab if it's offered by the NHS (you can actually buy it for £21.95 at Boots even if you're not considered vulnerable) and keep your medicine cabinet stocked up (you should be doing that anyway with all kinds as you never know what you might get struck down with).

You'll be fine.

Stock up on medicine.
Have easy food in the house ready
Subscribe to a new tv channel eg Disney

It's horrendous. If you all get it that's simpler because you'll all be in bed. If one or both kids don't (but I expect they will, 17/25 kids in my son's class were off) then you'll need to drive them to school or all get a taxi because you absolutely will not be able to walk them in. Have big stocks of ibuprofen and paracetamol (adult and kids versions) and multiple sets of PJ's because you'll sweat through them multiple times a night and won't have the energy to wash anything.

Oh yes and I never touch any door handles in public!

Try not to worry. Flu is not as transmissible as Covid. Most people will get the flu once every ten years and we do maintain some immunity.

The best things to do to protect yourself - make sure you’ve had the flu jab and your children have. Practice good hygiene and avoid touching your face/eyes.

Get hold of some First Defence - and use before any after going on public transport and busy places,

Eat healthily and get plenty of sleep,

Worst case - you’d have to keep kids off school and all camp out together.

Book yourself a flu jab, I had to pay for mine but its worth it. Be scrupulous about antibac spraying touch points like door handles, toilet flush etc. Get yourself some Vicks First defence nasal spray, not the unblocker. Its a game changer for me. Spray it at first sign of a tickle or even just when you've had contact with people.

Get vaxxed if you're not and you can get it. Uncrustables. Lunchables if you have them there. Ramen. Cereal. String cheese and crackers. Fill up some gallon jugs with water. Paper plates and plastic cutlery. Takeout. Pizza.

You're going to have to get to know some of the people around you because as a single parent, you need a support system in case.

This is why I have the flu jab every year.

It doesn't sound like OP has much of a choice though. So I'm trying to give practical advice

You will not be able to parent children with this flu. It's deadly. My sister her hubby and 3 year old couldn't get out of bed

Go and get yourself a flu jab. Make sure you are stocked up on paracetamol, ibuprofen, tissues, ready meals and any other illness essentials - I used to always end up having to drive to get things when I was feeling my worst.

Other than that, expect a week of incredibly low standards and high screen time and junk food.

@Redonionsalad be scrupulous cleaning your hands, and the children, and have the flu jab. Me and my 7yr old had the jab, well she had the flu sniff and we didn't get it when everyone else did