Want to do something nice for a mother whose been confined to her home for about a month?

[dugaresa]

All of her kids have been sick for a long time.

First it appeared to be a cold in the youngest earlier this month.

Then mid month her one kid gets pneumonia after a bad cold. Now he has double pneumomia and her two others have been tested and confirmed with H1N1, with one of them now with pneumonia too. She is going crazy and has cabin fever already.

I would like to do something nice for her because she is bearing the brunt of the care for these youngsters.

Anyone got any creative ideas?

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

1. Offer to sit with the kids so she can go out!

:)

[Chan790]

2. Yup.

Just make sure you get your vaccine shots first and aren't sick with anything else you'd be dragging into that household.

[dugaresa]

3. i would, but i am an asthmatic so i can't risk it

i have been hospitalized for my asthma with illnesses before...i am up to date on shots but it even a slight flu is bad for me

[Chan790]

4. Okay...

bring food. That's what Grandma taught me: Someone's sick, someone died, someone got laid-off, someone's depressed or someone's getting divorced...bring a casserole. It feeds a family of 4 for 1 1/2 to 2 meals and that's one less thing to think about.

Grandma liked to send grape leaves but that's kind of too-cultural for most people. If you didn't grow up on grape leaves stuffed with bulghur, rice, mint, parsley, chickpea-mash and lamb...you'd probably find it uncomforting and strange. Stick to the staples: Lasagnas work well.

[Sanity Claws]

5. Ditto on the food recommendation

In addition to the lasagna or other casserole idea, they might appreciate a bag of apples. Perfect for this time of year.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. take her laundry to your house and do it. and

offer to run errands for her.
crayons, coloring books, magazines

[dugaresa]

7. i am going to do a combo of different ideas presented here

her kids are very picky eaters, so I am going to bring dinner (Ham and a sweet potato casserole and salad with fresh cornbread and an apple pie)

I will bring her some toiletries to pamper herself and some magazines and put them in a new purse (I shop at discount stores like TJMaxx and saw something she would like)

[Flaxbee]

8. yup, that sounds nice. Plus, offer to rent her some movies

if she doesn't have Netflix, things she'd like to watch if she ever has a few moments while the kids are sleeping.

Ditto on the laundry suggestion.

Do a library run if she needs some reading material.

If they have pets, something for them, too -- take the dog for a walk, whatever. If the cat needs to go to the vet, do that (if your asthma isn't a factor). Small things that she then doesn't have to worry about.