All Grandparents Need a Back Up Plan in Case of the Flu

What's a poor grandparent to do when it comes to taking care the grandkids? If we keep them at home with us 24/7, they drive us crazy. If we send them off to daycare or pre-school, they come home with nasty germs and other bacteria that they are bound to pass on to us.

That's what happened to me last week as I was trying to nurse my grandson back to health from some flu virus he had to receive at his daycare. As he got well, I found myself flat on my back with all kinds of aches, pains, congestion and a headache that wouldn't quit.

The flu virus is usually prominent from October through May, the time of year typically known as "flu season." I should've known that but since I haven't had the flu in more than 10 years, I figured I had to be immuned from it despite all the reports that indicate older adults, young children and people with specific health conditions are at higher risk for serious flu complications.

On average annually in the U.S: 5 percent to 20 percent of the population gets the flu; over 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications; and about 23,600 people die from the flu-related causes.

No, I didn't die although there are times I felt like I was on my way.

If you are the primary caregiver of a small child and you get sick make sure you have someone who can help out while you recover. And by all means, make sure your grandchild can stay in a healthier environment so you don't keep passing the germs back and forth.

I was blessed to have a husband to nurse me back to health and the great-grandparents also pitched in by keeping our grandson.