Sick Mom Emergency Plan
Today I'm sharing a plan for when Mom- or any caretaker- is sick or injured. I call it the Sick Mom Emergency Plan, and I created it for use with my own family, in partnership with Jewel-Osco. I've even got a free printable so you have your plan handy when you need it!
Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Nanny.
If you have kids, or if you care for kids, you really don't get sick days. You're on duty or on call, 24-7.
But it does happen.
You get sick or hurt or maybe you are recovering from surgery or giving birth.
There are times when mom just needs a sick day. Or twelve.
I'm not talking the sniffles that we all get and suffer through as we trudge through life as usual.
I mean the kind where you might be bed-ridden or down for the count.
It happened to me twice this year. No broken bones or surgery luckily, but I got hit pretty hard with the worst case of strep throat I've ever had. I got it in June, the morning after my daughter's birthday party. Of course. The other time was an exhausting chest cold in November.
Shivering and roasting at the same time, I spent days on the couch.
Laundry piled up to the ceiling. The contents of the fridge dwindled down to ketchup and salad dressing. Mail and papers got stacked and stacked.
Hubby and the kids do their share of chores- it doesn't always fall on me- but it seems like when I'm sick everything comes to a halt.
I decided I need a system. No. a PLAN. A Sick Mom Emergency Plan. I even made a printable in case you want one too.
Of course I'm calling it that because *I'm* a mom but I think you could use it for any primary caretaker.
A Plan For When Mom Gets Sick
Take some time to talk with everyone in the family- ideally when everyone is fine and healthy. But if it's already happening, do it when you have the energy.
List out all the things that MUST get done on a daily basis. Everyone's list will be different but here are some ideas:
- Laundry
- Grocery Shopping
- Meal prep and cooking
- Paying Bills
- Regular Errands
- School drop off and pick up for older kids
What is necessary and what isn't?
In a separate list, write out any other tasks that CAN get done, but can also wait.
Next have an open, honest discussion with your family about who will be in charge of everything on the MUST list.
This will be different for every family, and also will change over time. Here are some questions to consider for your family discussion:
- Can you ask neighbors, friends and family for help with any?
- Can you find a responsible tween-age neighbor to come by as a Mother's Helper after school to give you a break?
- Can you hire out any tasks to take some stress out of a particularly hard week?
- Can you order your groceries from your local grocery store and have them delivered?
I didn't think this last one was possible but turns out I was wrong.
I actually had the chance to try out the new Jewel Home Delivery service recently and decided that it is going to be at the top of our Sick Mom Emergency Plan next time I'm down for the count.
In fact, even on a non-sick day, with the option to order for delivery OR pick up, I could even swing by and cut my normal grocery time out completely. TIME SAVING WIN!
The beautiful thing is once you place an order on the Jewel-Osco website, everything you bought is in your History.
Even in my strep throat stupor I could get to the computer, login and order everything I bought last time in like 2 clicks.
And you can use it any day you need it to fit your schedule.
Jewel-Osco offers 1-hour delivery windows and Same Day Delivery. Delivery windows are available 7 days a week, from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. (Orders must be placed by 1:00 pm to be eligible for Same Day Delivery.)
You can check the Jewel-Osco Grocery Delivery site to see if it's available in your area. From there you can also create an account to start shopping.
Jewel-Osco Grocery Delivery & Pick-Up Details
Here's a quick run down of Jewel-Osco's new service, if you're as interested as I was when I found out about this.
– Delivery trucks are equipped with frozen and chilled compartments to keep your ice cream frozen and vegetables crisp.
– There is a $30 minimum purchase required for delivery or pickup.
– Savings available on your 1st online order:
- $25 Off + Free Delivery on your 1st order when you spend $100 or more (Promo Code: JEWEL valid on orders placed until 2/28/18) OR Free Delivery on your 1st order with $30 minimum purchase required (Promo Code: FREE valid on orders placed until 2/28/18)
– Online-only Promo Code Deals available – see the Online Savings section of their website
– Same Day Delivery / Pickup available:
- Place orders before 1:00 pm for Same Day Delivery
- Order before 3:00 am for delivery between 7:00 am and 10:00 am
- Order before 5:00 am for delivery between 11:00 am and 4:00 pm
- Order before 1:00 pm for delivery between 5:00 pm and 10:00 pm
- Home delivery fees vary by delivery window, but are typically:
- 1-hour delivery window: $5.95 on purchases of $150 or more, $7.95 on purchases under $150
- 2-hour delivery window: $2.95 on purchases of $150 or more, $4.95 on purchases under $150
- 4-hour delivery window: Typically FREE
– Drive Up & Go™ offers free curbside pickup
- There is no service fee for Drive UP & Go, just pay for your groceries, drive to Jewel-Osco and they load them into your car.
Free Sick Mom Emergency Plan Printable
If this seems like something you'd like to have in your back pocket then definitely print out a copy of the free Emergency Sick Mom Plan.
Print it when you are feeling well so you can have it handy when you need it.
What are some tips you use for your Sick Mom Plan?
Thank you again to Jewel-Osco for sponsoring this discussion of what to do when Mom gets sick.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Jewel-Osco. The opinions and text are all mine.
