Navigating Sick Days with Kids — and Grace
We recently had a really bad bout of hand, foot, and mouth sweep through our house. It hit hard and fast, which meant that all of a sudden we were staying home and canceling everything on our calendar. Overnight, our rhythms were disrupted, our plans were scrapped, and our days were suddenly spent wiping noses, changing sheets, and doling out popsicles and snuggles.
As I sat in the middle of that week, I was reminded again of how much I’ve had to grow in the grace of having a sick day with kids.
When I was a first-time mom, it felt so disorienting when my daughter got sick. Our schedule went out the window. Her needs changed by the hour. I canceled plans and felt like I was barely surviving the day. I swung between trying to act like everything was normal and shutting down completely — and both left me feeling a little stir-crazy.
But through the years (and many colds, fevers, and stomach bugs later), I’ve learned some things — not perfectly, but with practice. Sickness comes for every family, and it’s taught me rhythms of rest and dependence on God that I wouldn’t have learned any other way.
Here are a few of the lessons I’ve learned about navigating sick days with little ones — with grace.
1. Teach Rest — for Them and for You
When our kids are sick, one of the greatest gifts we can give them is teaching them how to rest. This doesn’t always come naturally — not for them, and not for me. My instinct is to push through, to make the day “normal.” But when we do that, we’re teaching our children to ignore the signals their bodies are sending.
So now, when my girls are sick, I remind them:
“Do you feel how tired you are today? That’s your body asking for rest. We steward our bodies when we give them what they need.”
That phrase — we steward our bodies when we give them what they need — has become a refrain in our home. When our tummies hurt, we give our bodies gentle foods. When our heads ache, we give them quiet. When we’re sick, we give them rest. It’s a small way of teaching them that our bodies are gifts from God, and caring for them is one way we worship Him.
2. Embrace the Sick Day as My Job
One of the most helpful reframes I’ve learned on sick days is to remember that this is my job. Caring for my little ones — wiping noses, refilling water cups, soothing tears — is not an interruption to my work; it is my work. Sometimes I even ask myself, How would I approach this day if I were a nurse caring for patients? What kind of patience and gentleness would I want to show? That little shift in perspective changes everything.
It helps me step into the day with a sense of purpose instead of frustration. I’m not falling behind; I’m being faithful in what God has put in front of me.
And then — I put my phone away. Because if I’m honest, when my kids are sick, the main thing I want to do is just survive the day. That’s usually when I’m most tempted to distract myself — to scroll, scroll, scroll through my phone just to escape the slowness of time and the constant needs. But I’ve learned that this never helps; it only leaves me feeling more impatient and overwhelmed.
Now, when I realize it’s going to be a sick day, I do a quick check of emails or texts in the morning, send what I need to, and then put my phone out of sight. I’ll keep it on loud so I can hear if the doctor’s office calls or a friend checks in, but I don’t carry it with me. The difference it makes — in my mood, my presence, and my ability to actually care well for my kids — is enormous.
3. Create a “Rest Nest”
After years of trial and error, I’ve learned that sick days go much smoother when I create a little nest for my kids. Usually this means setting up a cozy corner on the couch — complete with a blanket, a few favorite books, their Yoto player, and a towel underneath just in case we’re battling a stomach bug.
Sometimes I’ll gather a random stack of books and call it “Book Club.” It’s nothing fancy — just me choosing a handful of stories I think they’ll enjoy. But for whatever reason, the moment I say, “Want me to make you a Book Club?” their eyes light up.
These quiet activities keep them near me, in a restful posture, but still engaged. And honestly, I can gauge how sick they are by whether or not they start dozing off mid-book.
4. Use Screens Thoughtfully
Yes, we use screens on sick days. But I recently picked up a brilliant tip from a friend: when her kids are sick, she puts on a movie that isn’t their favorite.
That way, if they’re still really under the weather, they’ll lie quietly and watch. But if they’re on the mend, they’ll start moving around, asking to play, or getting restless. It’s a surprisingly effective way to gauge their recovery — and it keeps screens in their proper place, as a tool rather than the default plan.
5. Keep Gentle Routines
When everyone is sick, it’s tempting to toss out the day entirely. But I’ve found that keeping gentle anchors in our schedule actually helps everyone feel a bit more secure.
We still aim for meals around the same time (even if “lunch” is just a few crackers and a few sips of bone broth). We still do naps at the usual hour, and we keep screen time mostly to designated windows rather than all day.
These small rhythms remind our kids — and us — that even when the day feels unpredictable, we still live under the steady hand of a faithful God.
6. Embrace Paper Plates
Sick days are not the days to try to do it all. In fact, they’re the days to do less. One simple grace I’ve learned to give myself? Paper plates.
It’s such a small thing, but on the days when I’m juggling medicine schedules, wiping noses, and comforting little ones, the last thing I need is a sink full of dishes. Paper plates remind me that I don’t have to do everything perfectly. I can make small choices that make space for rest — for my kids and for myself.
Sometimes grace looks like disposable dinnerware and an early bedtime.
If your little one has an upset tummy, keep it simple. The BRAT diet — bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast — is a wonderful place to start. These foods are soft, bland, and easy on the stomach. They give your child’s body gentle nourishment while it heals, and they’re easy to keep on hand for when the next round of sickness inevitably comes around.
7. Lean into Grace
More than anything, sick days remind me that I am not in control — and that’s a grace. I can plan, structure, and prepare, but ultimately I’m dependent on the Lord to give strength for the moment in front of me.
On days like these, I’ll often leave my Bible open on the kitchen counter to a passage that reminds me of God’s care. One of my favorites is Isaiah 40:11:
“He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.”
What a tender image — the God of the universe gently leading those who have young. He sees the long nights, the fevers, the fatigue, the moments when we feel like we’re just surviving. And He promises to lead us gently through it all.
When I remember that, sick days become something more than disruptions — they become small opportunities to practice dependence, gentleness, and grace.
Mama, if you’re reading this from the couch, with a sick little one beside you — take heart. The Lord is near. He will give you what you need today. He always has, and He always will!
