The barfy flu with:
Toddlers: Child wakes up crying at 2 a.m. covered in vomit. Get out of bed. Comfort child. Clean child. Clean bed. Lather, rinse, repeat . . . all night long. Snatch 3 minute long naps, perhaps as many as 10 throughout the night, when not engaged in the above activities. Cancel all daily activities in the morning as you must be 100% available for comfort, cleaning, and more cleaning. Bang your head against a wall when another child wakes up the next morning at 2 a.m. covered in vomit. Repeat for as many days as you have children.
Teenagers: Go into bedroom at 6:30 a.m. to wake sure teenager is awake. Have her inform you she's been throwing up every 20 minutes since 2 a.m. Commiserate with her. Once she's ensconced on the couch with the remote, cell phone and barf tupperware, resume your regularly scheduled activities, checking in once-in-a-while and providing ice chips in the early afternoon. Make sure son takes a barf tupperware to bed with him when he says he's not feeling so hot. You'll find out in the morning if he had to use it.
Sometimes you gotta appreciate the big kids.
P.S. My number one tip involving toddlers and throwing up? Teach them to go for the bathtub instead of the toilet. It's a much bigger target. Sure you can't flush, but it's no big deal if you have a shower massager shower head and you're going to have a lot less floor mopping to do.
man oh man I'm glad that I'm not in your shoes.That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Posted by: Mike Golch | June 05, 2008 at 12:47 AM
Oh, is this going to turn into a regular series? I hope so, because it both makes me feel free, trapped, hopeful, and relieved. My toddler is now 4 and getting older every second. And my teenager is 15 going on 25.
Posted by: Jason | June 05, 2008 at 01:36 AM
Thanks for the tip, I'll have to remember it for my son. I'm not very good with puke, I may just use the tub right along side him.
Posted by: Melanie | June 05, 2008 at 02:21 AM
Oh, YEAH...thanks for the TUB tip! You meaney you! ;)
Someday I, too, shall be able to impart these little gems of wisdom. Thank GOD no barfy flu this year!
Posted by: JCK | June 05, 2008 at 02:36 AM
My kids are not 100% yet on making it to the bathroom, but life has gotten much better since they learned to try. (The bathtub tip is excellent.)
When you describe teenagers managing their own stomach bug, it's like you're explaining heaven.
Posted by: Jennifer H | June 05, 2008 at 02:41 AM
Oh Jenn, do you know how much I hate vomit. I am actually scared of it. I vomited my way through all my pregnancies and have always been relieved that my children have rarely had vomiting disorders.
The bath tub idea is a great one. Much more pleasant for the vomiter too than puking in the loo. I shall remember that.
We have a particular bowl we use when people feel ill. A few months ago we had visitors and I was short of bowls and stuff so emplyed that one. My children wouldn't touch the food in that bowl even though it was their favourite crispies!!!
Posted by: Reluctant Blogger | June 05, 2008 at 07:17 AM
man, I was just walking my dog and somebody down at the corner missed the bathtub and toilet and got the sidewalk...
(eww!)
Posted by: gary | June 05, 2008 at 08:27 AM
No, no, no! Our family has a very strict vomit-in-place policy. There is nothing worse than a child trying to make it to the bathroom and puking all the way there.
Posted by: suburbancorrespondent | June 05, 2008 at 08:37 AM
Toddlers and barf are not a very good combo.
Posted by: Claudia | June 05, 2008 at 08:41 AM
I never thought about the tub...good idea.
Letting your kids grow up does have advantages though. I agree.
They gotta tough it out themselves sometimes.
Posted by: Suzanne | June 05, 2008 at 08:47 AM
High five for teenagers! Whoo hoo!
Posted by: standing still | June 05, 2008 at 09:01 AM
The tub was always our barfitorium of choice too (though, the smell of the toilet can help induce vomiting when the body is hesitant, but you can tell that you need to).
Posted by: MamaMo | June 05, 2008 at 09:31 AM
Bathtub! Brilliant!!!
Posted by: melissa | June 05, 2008 at 09:51 AM
The tub is far better than spewed all over the bathroom floor.
I was a chaperone on a sixth grade field trip a couple weeks ago, and one of my charges got sick and didn't make it to the toilet on the bus. I had to clean the vomit off the floor and bathroom door. On a moving bus. I congratulate myself on not adding to the mess.
Posted by: Smalltown Mom | June 05, 2008 at 10:24 AM
Thanks for the bathtub tip.
My 6 year old is good about getting to the bathroom, but the 3 year old still has that deer in the headlight look when he gets sick.
Posted by: LifeAsIKnowIt | June 05, 2008 at 11:45 AM
The bathtub - that's a great tip!
Sorry they are all sick - hope it clears out of your house soon.
Take care - Kellan
Posted by: Kellan | June 05, 2008 at 11:46 AM
Teenagers know how to do it
Posted by: david | June 05, 2008 at 11:57 AM
It is a HUGE developmental milestone when they can anticipate the puke and get it in the Tupperware. Hope the germs leave your house quickly!
Posted by: Sue @ My Party of 6 | June 05, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Ugh. Thanks for pointing out a benefit to having a teenager.
Posted by: magpie | June 05, 2008 at 01:22 PM
Oh dear lord. We haven't done the barfy flu yet. I'm scared. But I appreciate your bathtub tip more than you know!
Posted by: MereCat | June 05, 2008 at 01:28 PM
I love that you blog about positive aspects of teenagers (even tongue-in-check). I always hear about the negatives of teens, it's nice to hear something else, and maybe even have something to look forward too :)
Posted by: Val | June 05, 2008 at 01:35 PM
Ahhh, one of my favorite childhood milestones, when they can tell you they are going to throw up BEFORE they actually do! Luckily we are not a pukey family. But both girls are big enough for the couch, remote,popsicle, and puke bowl treatment these days.
Posted by: Karen | June 05, 2008 at 02:53 PM
Honestly, I think this may be one of the number one reasons I love my teenage daughter! We had the stomach flu last week w/ three of the kids. The older one is the ONLY one that didn't puke on me! Yay for teenagers!
Posted by: Lori | June 05, 2008 at 02:53 PM
I am way more in favour of puke tupperware than trying to get them to the bathroom!
My second son, by 8, wouldn't even wake anyone up when he was pukey. He would just go to the bathroom on his own, poor kid.
Posted by: Kristen | June 05, 2008 at 03:11 PM
Hope they are feeling better soon, and that you are immune.
Posted by: Kristen | June 05, 2008 at 03:11 PM
I agree, it is SOOOOOOO much easier when they are teens. Our barf bucket is a stainless mixing bowl with a handle (nice and cool and comforting to put next to a hot cheek)
And if you have a really active kiddo in those middle years? So nice to have him mellow for a few days...although I always felt guilty about that, since he WAS sick!
If your kids are indeed sickies, I hope they feel better soon.
PS: Got any A/C to send my way? Electricity maybe? ...posted from the library
Posted by: kcinnova | June 05, 2008 at 03:18 PM
excellent tip for toddler barfing (bathtub - genius!) no icky crevice cleanups around the toilet.
where were you 10 years ago? although, for some reason, we have been so lucky around here. I can count on one hand the number of times my kids barfed (not counting bottle feeding vomit blasts).
so really the person who needs to tip is moi. i tend to come down with the barfly flu at least once per year.
Posted by: coffeeyogurt | June 05, 2008 at 03:42 PM
Thanks for the bathtub tip--and again for making the teenage years something to look forward to :)
Posted by: Lisa | June 05, 2008 at 03:43 PM
I think it just gets better the older they get. Even the rough stuff.
Posted by: Madge | June 05, 2008 at 06:33 PM
Yep. HRH puked in the middle of the children's section of the library on Monday.
And you forgot to include 'coming into your bed/throwing up on your side.'
As Jen H puts it; you're describing heaven.
Posted by: Manic Mommy | June 05, 2008 at 09:07 PM
My girls have been trained since they were toddlers to barf either into a lined waste basket or, even better, one of those plastic cups from football games. Yeah, they're good.
We also have mostly leather furniture, which is my #1 choice for where to place vomiting children, as a leather sofa is hands-down easier to clean than a bed.
Posted by: Jen on the Edge | June 05, 2008 at 09:28 PM
Now why didn't I think of the bath tub thing? Brilliant!
Posted by: Denise | June 05, 2008 at 09:39 PM
2nd blog I've read where the kids have the flu - what is UP? Must be a bug going 'round. Poor babies. Hope everyone is on the mend. Good thought on the larger target. Oh my.
Posted by: Ann | June 05, 2008 at 09:51 PM
That is a GOOD tip. Thanks!
Hope everyone's on the mend...
Heidi
Posted by: Heidi | June 05, 2008 at 10:04 PM
Oh My God. Can't wait for the teenage years. And the image of a toddler pitching it into the bathtub? Perfect.
Posted by: Minnesota Matron | June 05, 2008 at 10:21 PM
Last week was the beach story, now the barf story. I don't want to wish my life away, but you are giving me stuff to which I can look forward - for sure! I hope she is feeling better soon. I had it yesterday (hubby too) now I hope my little one's don't get it!
Posted by: amy | June 05, 2008 at 11:14 PM
I love your toddler vs teenager posts! They are so much fun to read. Especially when the toddler years seem annoying... there's the teen perspective to look forward to.
I hope you do more!
Posted by: mandy g. | June 05, 2008 at 11:14 PM
The tub is brilliant, thanks.
The more I read Juggling Life, the less I'm dreading the teen years. I think your blog should be deemed a PSA.
Posted by: Tricia | June 05, 2008 at 11:16 PM
Paragraph #1 was my story last night.
I'd have totally done the bathtub thing, but there's toys everywhere, so I offered myself up as a barf receptacle instead. Now, I'm kinda regretting that decision.
Posted by: Deb | June 06, 2008 at 04:18 PM