Finding Balance While Managing Family Life During Flu Season as a Mom

When the flu hits, it can feel like everything falls apart—especially for moms who already have a full plate. Managing work, kids, and household duties is tough on a healthy day. Add the flu into the mix, and it becomes a real challenge. This post shares a personal story and practical tips for moms who find themselves sick but still responsible for their children’s care. Whether you have twins, a child with special needs, or just a busy household, these insights can help you get through the tough days.

When the Flu Strikes: Managing Alone

As an educator and school social worker, I carry a lot on my plate. My work is meaningful, but it’s demanding—and because of that, school breaks are something I truly look forward to. They’re a chance to slow down, reconnect, and reset with my family.

This break was supposed to be different.

I had planned it down to the smallest detail.

For nearly three weeks leading up to time off, I was preparing. I wrote out ideas for what I wanted to do with the twins, researched low-cost activities we could do at home, and even scheduled a few outings. I had started working on a visual schedule for my son, who has autism, hoping to bring some structure and predictability into our days. I felt organized. Prepared. Ready.

And then—life had other plans.

The night my husband and I were celebrating our anniversary, I felt it: the chills. The kind that instantly make your stomach drop because you know this isn’t just a cold. By the next day, I was out. Completely wiped. For the better part of a week, I felt like I had been hit by a truck.

What made it even harder was navigating it mostly on my own. My husband was working, and I made the difficult decision not to rely on my dad for help. Protecting him meant protecting my mom, who lives with primary progressive MS—and that mattered more than my own exhaustion.

Then, as if on cue, the twins got sick too.

Suddenly, everything I had planned disappeared. The activities. The schedules. The vision I had for the break. Instead, my days blurred together in survival mode: Gatorade bottles everywhere, tissue boxes within reach, Tamiflu doses to remember, asthma inhalers lined up, and constant reminders to drink water—lots of it.

It wasn’t the break I imagined.

It wasn’t restful or productive or even memorable in the ways I had hoped.

But it was real.

There’s something humbling about moments like these—when all you can do is show up, do the bare minimum, and remind yourself that survival is enough. Parenting while sick strips everything down to its core: keeping your kids safe, comforted, and cared for—even when you’re running on empty.

If you’re reading this while sick, exhausted, or grieving the plans that didn’t happen—know this: you didn’t fail. Sometimes the win is simply getting through the day. And sometimes, that’s more than enough.

Here’s to the breaks that don’t go as planned—and the strength it takes to keep going anyway.

Adjusting Expectations and Finding Grace

The flu can disrupt even the best-laid plans. What I learned is that flexibility and grace are essential. Plans may need to be scrapped or changed, and that’s okay. Your family will understand, and your health must come first.

Try to:

• Stay Hydrated!

• Accept that some days will be harder than others

• Celebrate small wins, like getting through a day

• Reach out to your support network when possible

• Focus on connection rather than productivity

  
  

If you’re facing a similar situation, remember you’re not alone. Take it one day at a time, and don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it. Your health and your family’s well-being are worth the effort.