What do each of you do to interact with your children on your bad days?

I want to save grandparents for those times when we're desperate.

Also what do you say to your kids when both parents are moody and volitole? Our oldest said..."this is Lyme right?" But the littler ones don't understand...

The TV is her main friend on most days..But she is also on the computer more than I would like.. At her age, it is really not a babysitter..But if your children are still young, I would suggest Disney or the PBS channels. They tend to at least do some education as they babysit..Or parent selected videos.

To explain it to your youngest, perhaps you could find some loving photos and some grouchy ones..to help them know what type of day it is. Just also let them know it isn't their fault that you are not in a good state. It is hard for them to grasp the changes, if they remain the same.

There are a lot of activities to do with young ones that can keep them entertained, as long as they are old enough to participate. Arts and crafts are great for 4+. It just takes the set up of an easel or some fun things to cut and paste. Little ones can draw pictures, or play in a sand or oatmeal table. Have you tried activity books to help come up with things for them to keep themselves occupied with? That way, you can lay down close-by while they can still use imagination.

I know it's especially hard with infants and tots. My son is 14 months, and requires constant supervision and attention. I have another one on the way. I embrace all independence because it gives me a minute to take a breath. Have you considered in-home help, at least part time so you can have downtime? I know for our family that isn't feasible finantially, but if it is an option it might not hurt to take it. In the meantime I just set up as many activities as I can think of in the morning, and let him go at it while I lay next to him. I'll keep brainstorming and if you let me know their ages I will try to come up with more age-appropriate activities that will allow you downtime.

My 4 year old played with playdough all day last week and it was great. But I'm still picking dried up playdough out of the carpet.

I also let him do some pouring exercises with popcorn kernels, but that lasted about 10 minutes before they went flying around.

My 2 year old is newly 2 and still likes to color on herself or the walls or table, etc. She also likes to run with whatever she has found that is usual contraband.

My kids love to be read to and cozy up. some days that's great, but headache and dizzy days don't do so well.

My husband read the posts and agrees that activity books and crafts are things our kids enjoy. I'm just not always brave enough to try them.

I'm definitely up for new ideas. Pre lyme days we homeschooled all our kids. We don't have TV or cable per se but we go to the library and check out videos and rent Netflix often.

Simple board games are effective as well, as you want to stimulate children's imaginations at a young age. This is very important for cognizance.

Hang a blanket over two kitchen chairs as this can be their "tent" for the day.

Here are a few age-specific activities for your youngest two:

Four is a great age for a lot of things that can keep kids entertained, while still being educational. One trip to the craft store to stock up on some materials and you're set.

-Sock puppets (goggle eyes, yarn, construction paper, cotton balls, glitter...)
-Paper bag puppets
-puzzles
-phonics books
-dress-up
-pretend kitchen (pots, pans, cups)
-coloring books

The 2-year old is more difficult but there are still some things to occupy some of the time so you can rest:

-large beads to string
-peg puzzles
-large paper and crayons
-learning tables
-small oatmeal table to sift through. Add some toys and funnels.

I know these crafts can be ominous because of the potential mess, but it'll probably give you more time for yourself, and you'll feel a lot better about your kids having that imaginative play, creative expression, and fine-motor tuning. Just try not to worry about the mess because kids will be kids and if you have some playdough on the rug, oh well! If you're still worried about it though, just put down a big plastic table cloth and let them do their crafts on there.

Unfortunately nothing is going to replace the mom time that they need, so if you can just muster up enough energy on those hard days to lay down with them while they watch the movie, or cuddle with them on the couch for 10 minutes before nap time, it'll be a great service to them. You don't have to say much--just having the closeness will do the trick.

Good luck and hang in there! Your kids will be just fine.

This is no picnic with them running around! I have an adult in the home who is not sick, but I was stuck with them day in and day out when I was at my sickest, and couldn't work and he had to take on more work.

1.) Remove ALL crayons, markers, etc. Replace them with WASHABLE.
2.) Got a wall you can't stand, for the little one that likes to color? You can buy that white board stuff that you can nail to walls- the one's teacher's use... and you can wash off the washable stuff when she is done.
3.) Movies, movies and more movies. Keep movies, remote and all kinds of books beside YOU. Got a recliner? Pull out the books and have them read them to you. Or throw on a movie.

4.) This is kind of odd and some may find it rude. BUT ... my daughter enjoys this game "Lets see who can be quietest THE LONGEST." Believe it or not.. I ALWAYS LOSE! And she remembers.. and will jump up and say

YOU TALKED, YOU TALKED, you lost!

5.) In house sandbox. Crazy crazy idea, but it WORKS. If you still have that room that you might not care much about, get a sandbox. It keeps them busy, trust me.

6.) Make as much food as you can on days you feel good and store it. You can make snack trays, etc for them to get out. The six year old could help?

7.) Church, family, friends, respite daycare workers, INTERNSHIP daycare workers... all GREAT ideas. You can contact your local colleges and see if any daycare workers need to do an internship. Usually they require they do it IN a daycare, but I recently found one that doesnt!

I hope these help.

For example, my 4 yr. old saw me throwing up the other day. Then I just lied down on the couch. He put all his beanie babies in a small shopping cart I bought him for x-mas to making cleaning up around the house fun. He rolled the shopping cart over to me and put all the beanie babies on my chest and stomach to heal me and then sat on the couch with me until I felt better.

I know he must have been scared, but I could not protect him from it because he was just right there when it happened. I know he and my other son have become very caring, nurturing people becaause I have lyme.

I spend most of my time in bed or on the couch.

What about game cards like Old Maid, Go fish, Uno for younger kids. I also taught my older son chess and we play checkers and backgammon in bed.

That's as creative as I have been able to be.