One morning before school, your son comes downstairs with a fever, a tummyache and the chills. You know he's got a bug - but you don't want to catch it! Still, you can't leave him to fend for himself - he needs his mommy to make him soup, cool his burning forehead and sit with him while he watches cartoons. How can you take care of your sick kids without coming down with the flu yourself?

The first tip for avoiding sickness - for yourself and your family members - is washing your hands. Make sure your kids wash their hands before every meal and every time they use the restroom - and follow this rule yourself. Hands are the primary mode of transportation for all kinds of nasty bacteria and viruses, so the more you wash them, the less likely you'll be to come down with this season's bug. You don't have to develop full-blown OCD, but carrying around a small bottle of hand sanitizer isn't a bad idea.

If you want to keep your son's virus from spreading to yourself or your other kids, it's also important to clean the house. Wipe down the countertops with antibacterial towelettes, make sure to thoroughly wash any cups or bowls your sick son uses and throw away used tissues immediately. You don't have to quarantine him, but limit his contact with other kids in the house. Not only will this help him rest so he can recover faster, it'll keep your other children from contracting his illness.

If you take the proper precautions, there's no reason you can't cuddle your sick little one while he enjoys a bowl of your best mac 'n' cheese.

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