Things to do while on sick kid lockdown

nico_ben_yellow_pants.jpg
nico_12_weeks_yellow_floor.jpg

We were quarantined this week and getting some serious cabin fever. Here are some things to do to pass the time a little easier:
1. Have a silly photoshoot! Hot tip for photographing babies… American Apparel has these awesome little underwear, diaper cover things (nico’s are pictured in yellow) which photograph so much better than diapers.
2. Play Go Fish and Candyland until you want to scream. And don’t forget to let Ben win! 😉
3. Ben’s suggestion: Draw on all the walls in the house in blue oil pastel. Yes, HE DID DO THAT. I was horrified, then I wanted to laugh, then I was horrified again. If anyone knows how to get this off the walls, I would appreciate the tips!

Okay, I’m out of ideas. It was hard, especially when I am on febrile seizure watch. No fun at all! But like all hard things, there are bursts of the sacred and joyous tucked away in between. I’ve learned to expect these even when times are hardest…

“There was a single blue line of crayon drawn across every wall in the house. What does it mean? I asked. A pirate needs the sight of the sea, he said and then he pulled his eye patch down and turned and sailed away.”
— Brian Andreas (Story People)
ben_nico_super_strong.jpg

Follow on Facebook Follow on Instagram Follow on Twitter Follow on Pinterest

Hi, I’m Andrea

On this blog you’ll be learning with me how to use our voices, share our creative superpowers and live life in full color.

As an artist, photographer, life coach + mentor, I’m redefining what it means to be a SUPERHERO — ‘cause in my world, it’s got nothing to do with capes, spandex or sidekicks and everything to do with tenderness, intuition & baby steps of bravery.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ME >

24 Comments

  1. Jeanne

    Big hugs
    I hope all are feeling well soon and you can get outside.
    Happy Chinese New Year
    The Year of the Rabbit
    Love Jeanne

    Reply
  2. Vanessa

    oh boy. hang in there!
    a)diaper cover is adorable.
    b)get better soon!
    c)try wd40 on a rag or goof-off (usually used to remove price tag stickers) to get the pastel off the wall(s). you might also try the MrClean eraser, I have heard it works wonders… or maybe it is a sign that you should just repaint?

    Reply
  3. carey

    Ah Andrea. Always love your posts. Love (Love!) the quote. Keep on keeping on and if that doesn’t work – call a good friend to deliver Baileys and drink coffee with you. That always works for me on the crazier of crazy days 😉

    Reply
  4. Elizabeth

    If it makes you feel any better- I’m snowbound with 3 kids in Boston. Talk about cabin fever-the snow piles are even taller than I am. We made Mardi Gras masks and had a play. Baked ALOT- with the kids help….and made Valentine cards for just about everyone we know.
    I hope Ben feels better soon…
    Try Magic Eraser…it may take some paint with it, but it worked on black sharpie marker in our house. 🙂

    Reply
  5. jen v

    i third the mr clean magic eraser. i hope it works for you.
    hang in there!!!

    Reply
  6. Jennifer

    I was going to comment and suggest the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, but it appears others have beat me to the punch. Also, a neighbor of mind recommends Crud Cutter, a product made by Sherwin Williams (of the paint store fame).
    Maybe you could just buy the Storypeople print and hang it near the new art work. Or start a new mural. We’ve had marker on our wall for three years. People forgive you when you have young boys, and when I get frustrated about it, I just remember the “My house isn’t perfect. We live here” picture I saw to promote Brene Brown’s book. Then I feel better.
    Take care. Hot chocolate and whipped cream can work wonders if you need a pick-me-up. Sick days lockdowns can be so crummy.

    Reply
  7. Erin Wilson

    Oh boy. Looks like your Ben is needing a visit to the sea! How crazy cool is it that an Andreas story matches your life?!
    My only suggestion with the oil pastel is to maybe scrape off what you can with a pallet knife/razor blade before going at it with other methods. I have visions of blue pastel being smeared all over the place.

    Reply
  8. Erin Wilson

    Oh boy. Looks like your Ben is needing a visit to the sea! How crazy cool is it that an Andreas story matches your life?!
    My only suggestion with the oil pastel is to maybe scrape off what you can with a pallet knife/razor blade before going at it with other methods. I have visions of blue pastel being smeared all over the place.

    Reply
  9. Kat

    If it’s not too cold outside, then a paintbrush and bowl of water can work wonders. Your little man will feel very important when charged with the task of “painting the house”!

    Reply
  10. Jet Harrington

    That quote is glorious. Congrats to you for finding the sacred in the mundane, for really, that is where it always lives.

    Reply
  11. Jennifer

    Have you noticed that Nico has a really wise look? He’s got a look like he knows something. I really like that.

    Reply
  12. Playcrane

    A product called Goo Gone might work.

    Reply
  13. bahiehk

    have a dance party!!! and invite the neigbours. xoxox

    Reply
  14. RookieMom Whitney

    I have an idea for getting out on a sick day: Wear Nico and push Ben in a stroller. Give him a point and shoot camera to use as you walk around. Then come home and show him his pictures.

    Reply
  15. nina

    Scrape off what you can and then try Bon Ami or Borax. Or you could just leave it. I remember scraping the wallpaper in a hundred-year-old house and being sweetly surprised to find kid scribbles on the bare plaster.
    We are home for our fourth consecutive *snow* day, our fourth consecutive day of family bonding. :}

    Reply
  16. georgy

    Ah, thank you – i so needed a good dose of you –
    -g-

    Reply
  17. Jenny

    we have cabin fever too, been seriously snowed in. we have been baking a lot, easy banana-oatmeal-flax muffins from scratch and I let my toddler help and then help to eat and clean-up.
    there is a recipe for homemade play-doh so we intend to make ours gluten-free, that is our next project.
    hope everyone is recovering quickly!

    Reply
  18. tiffany

    I’m not sure about oil pastels, but Mr. Clean magic erasers have cleaned up lots of messes at our house!

    Reply
  19. Trish

    Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
    Make brownies, cookies, snowman out of pre-made cookie dough mix.
    Turn up the music and dance, hide and seek, blow bubbles, love each other…

    Reply
  20. Puanani

    Here is the Candyland Tip 101: Play to your heart’s content. And when you have to make supper, just make sure Queen Frostine is on the top for Ben’s turn…

    Reply
  21. Mariella

    your boys are gorgeous! love the diaper cover. ordering one now for my Tessa!

    Reply
  22. Umber Darilek

    Just a thought on the walls: Magic Eraser can ruin your paint, so try dish soap with a sponge first. It’s an oil based pastel so the dish soap should work wonders. Then sponge the soap off. Repeat about 5 times. I know it gets even 7 day old oil paint out of my sweater sleeves.

    Reply
  23. oprol evorter

    I believe you have remarked some very interesting details , thanks for the post.

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ready for your next creative adventure?

Download the Mondo Beyondo dream generator!

Latest from the blog

[Podcast] The Good Eater with Nina Guilbeault

[Podcast] The Good Eater with Nina Guilbeault

In The Good Eater, Harvard-trained sociologist (and vegan) Nina Guilbeault, PhD vividly explores the movement's history and its present-day tensions by grappling with the most fundamental question of all: Is there a truly ethical way to eat? What emerges is a...

read more
[Podcast] The medicine of poetry with James Crews

[Podcast] The medicine of poetry with James Crews

James Crews is the editor of several bestselling anthologies, including The Path to Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy and How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope, which has over 100,000 copies in print. He has been featured in The Washington Post, The...

read more

self guided e-courses
INSTANT & FOREVER ACCESS

Choosing Ease

30 days of ease, joy and cultivating wonder

I believe that when I’m creating from a place of ease and buoyancy I am actually in flow – in alignment with myself and the Universe.

Capture the Magic

Rock your camera-phone - and discover that beauty and joy are everywhere.

The very best camera is the one that’s with you! I’ll show you how to get on your own path of joy and delight while learning photography skills along the way.

mondo beyondo

What does your heart truly want in 2020? 

What if you could name your dreams and desires for 2020 and create a plan to make them reality?

VIEW MORE COURSES

Experiments in Wonder:Your FREE 5-day mini course designed to activate your delight + joy.

This will also get you access to my mailing list full of weekly-ish inspiration, updates and musings. I'm so glad you're here!

You have Successfully Subscribed!