How do ‘normal’ parents react when their child is sick?

[anxiousupnorth]

Sorry if this isn’t the right place for this but…I have very severe emetophobia (fear of vomiting) and I’m trying to navigate parenting without scarring my child(ren) (DS 3, and I’m 20 weeks pregnant)

My son woke up vomiting tonight - on the one night I was in the room with him because we were camping in the basement because of the heatwave and I’d just gone to bed. It was bad, it was really everywhere, and he was upset and a bit scared. Luckily his Dad was nearby and I managed to get him in the room swiftly, and I patted my son’s back and said soothing things to him (while holding a towel over my face 😳), and then as soon as my husband was there I nipped off to get an ffp2 mask and then with that security was able to come back and help take care of him.

I’m aware this is far from the perfect response but I suppose I don’t have much concept of what a normal response is. I kind of imagine that non-phobic people swoop in and immediately cuddle their v* covered child without sorting any mess, but do you? My son has always been very calm about vomiting but tonight he said he wanted was scared and got really upset about the possibility of it happening again, and I suppose I’m just so worried about passing on my fear. Similarly I know it’s probably not great to wear a mask around your kid while they’re vomiting in terms of making them feel it’s no big deal but at the moment it’s either that and be able to look after him properly or no mask and constantly be trying to put distance between us.

so yes, if it’s not too weird a question, what do YOU do in that situation? Thank you!

I think you did really, really well and don't think your response differed that much from someone without a phobia bar the mask. You could explain the mask away as 'oh Mammy is just wearing this so she doesn't get the bug too'. Also, unlike a previous poster said I have no instinct to catch it, that does not occur to me to do. The only thing I try to make sure of is they know they're not in trouble or don't feel ashamed so I would say 'oh' for as long as I need to get my shock out and then lots of 'it's okay, it's okay' in a really soft voice, 'I bet that didn't feel good but you did really well, well done' etc xx

I’ve only ever had one child puke on the floor and dh cleared that up. A few have been sick in the bed but that’s a quick and easy strip and put straight into the washing machine. Otherwise they know the bathroom is the place to be sick and I just sit there and rub there backs, pass water, and make soothing noises. We also have a sick bowl (just an old mixing bowl) that they can take back to bed with them/have by the side of the sofa, which just gets poured down the loo, then thrown in the dishwasher.

@WorriedMillie
my 2.5 year old gets car sick and has vomitted in the car after 20 minutes.
We do not drive often because we live in London, but it makes me super anxious as I have emetaphobia and I worry about her not feeling in car etc.
I feel bad for her.
It seems awful to have to make them go on these trips when it makes them sick.
But we will have to make some trips....so please help me with what to do.
What age can they understand to use the pottete?
She had a tummy bug a month ago and she managed to tell me her tummy hurt and she did not feel well...but she would just be sick and I did not know what to do.
I guess next time I will tell her to be sick in the toilet or bucket!
I have two older kids who would complain in the car, but they were never sick from it.

@gunnersgold seriously?!?
how did that happen?!?
You are so lucky!!!!
Unfortunately, I have emetaphbia and my kids seem to catch a vomit bug once a year....and I have 3 kids.....so arghhhhh.
When I was little I only had 3 vomit bugs (before I was 6) and then nothing until I was 18!
But I managed to keep it in at 18 and just had a very painful bad tummy for several hours.

@anxiousupnorth that is interesting, I am a emetaphobe too and also the same family trait, my sister and I never caught these bugs! I went from age 6 to 30 with out vomitting and age 30 it was only a tiny amount bc of a bug, but my body just coud not manage to vomit! And until now (knock wood!) ive been in the clear even w 3 kids ages 2-10! But my kids vomit every year....SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!! During covid lockdowns they were not sick for 2 years! That was a bonus!