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From Generational Remedies to Cutting-Edge Care: Reinventing Sick-Day Traditions

Three Canadian moms share their time-honoured rituals and modern tricks for getting well sooner.

From Generational Remedies to Cutting-Edge Care: Reinventing Sick-Day Traditions
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Sick days are an unavoidable part of raising children, but accepting the inevitable doesn’t make it any less challenging when your kid comes down with a cold or the flu.

We reached out to three notable Canadian parents about their sick-day remedies—some that have been passed down for generations and some that are taking advantage of new technology right at their fingertips. From Korean chicken soup to extra cuddles to a Maple membership to access virtual care, the ways we look after our families may have evolved, but the essentials remain the same: warmth, love and a sense of security.

Here’s how modern parents preserve their beloved traditions while maximizing the resources of today.

From Generational Remedies to Cutting-Edge Care: Reinventing Sick-Day Traditions Monique Taylor-Yee Shui and her kids

Recreating the sick-day comforts of childhood

You probably have some pretty special memories of sick days as a kid. There was something so comforting about slowing down for a day or two and being given special treatment.

“Some of my most cherished memories are staying home from school, snuggled under a blanket on the couch, lathered up in Vicks VapoRub,” says Monique Taylor-Yee Shui. She would watch whatever was on TV—game shows, daytime talk shows, her mom’s soap operas—and movies on VHS.

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Joelle Anello has similar memories: “The nostalgic feeling of being under a warm blanket, with the fizzy taste of Brioschi—an Italian remedy for upset tummies—all with my mom close by.” It was those small comforts that always made Anello feel better.

For Esther Lee, her parents often had to work when she was feeling unwell, so sick days were spent tagging along to their store or enjoying time with her grandparents. “I remember being bundled, making sure I was kept extra warm and toasty, and having to take traditional Asian herbal medicines that I would plug my nose and take reluctantly!” Lee learned so much about how to care for others by the way her family cared for her. “I hope one day my kids also remember sick days as days where nothing else mattered but them.” Being fully present for her children on those days is something she strives to replicate from her own upbringing.

From Generational Remedies to Cutting-Edge Care: Reinventing Sick-Day Traditions Esther Lee and her children

Tried-and-true family remedies

When you think of a healing meal, what likely comes to mind is chicken soup. It’s a timeless remedy, and every culture has its own equivalent.

When Anello’s family isn’t feeling well, she loves making pastina. “It’s Italian penicillin! It’s said to cure just about anything, and I honestly still believe in its healing powers today,” she says. “The savoury chicken broth full of vegetables, tiny star-shaped pasta and Parmesan cheese is like a warm hug in a bowl.”

For Lee, it’s a traditional Korean chicken soup that brings back fond memories. “I swear it always worked for me! It’s kind of amazing how those natural remedies are now my go-tos too!” she says. “The smell of this recipe still reminds me of those days and being cared for.”

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When Taylor-Yee Shui’s family is under the weather, she turns to West Indian chicken and dumpling soup. “The recipe has been passed down from my mom—it’s the ultimate comfort food,” she says. “Natural remedies like honey, ginger and lemon are also staples in our home, just as they were when I was a child.”

Though many of these sick-day traditions have withstood the test of time, like natural remedies, rest and hydration, a big difference for families today is access to new technology.

From Generational Remedies to Cutting-Edge Care: Reinventing Sick-Day Traditions Joelle Anello and her son

Support when and where you need it

Home remedies are great, but sometimes you need professional backup. Clinics are beyond busy, and dragging sick kids to a doctor’s office can feel like a monumental task, so virtual health care can be a game changer.

When Lee’s family doesn’t have immediate access to physicians or hospitals, she uses Maple. “It’s truly helpful being able to access care when it is most needed,” she says. “There always seemed to be a lot of folklore involved in my parents’ generation, with no true facts backing up any of their remedies. With the technology and access to information that we have today, I’m able to make more informed decisions on our kids’ health and care.”

The sooner you can get your child seen by a doctor, the better. “While I love and appreciate the sick-day remedies that were passed down to me from my family, I now incorporate newer tools that were not available to my parents,” says Anello. “Virtual care has really made our lives easier as parents, especially during cold and flu season.”

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Being able to speak with a real Canadian-licensed care provider, get a diagnosis and have prescriptions faxed to a pharmacy close to home can keep your family out of the emergency room with non-emergency symptoms.

With a Maple membership, you can access all these services and more. Avoiding crowded waiting rooms and getting peace of mind when you need it most? Now that’s definitely worth it. “Being able to have a consultation from the comfort of home, while my child rests, makes such a difference,” says Taylor-Yee Shui.

Get Maple. Get well sooner. 

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