Home Sick: 10 Ways Work it Without a Remote

When you can only go as far as the driveway, make it count.
 Vogue Japan shot by Giampaolo Sgura and styled by Anna Dello Russo.

Hi Party People,

Here are ten ways to entertain your children, when they both somehow simultaneously convince you they have dreadful colds, only to find that by 3PM they are ready to do kick-flips on their scooters:

1. Make buttermilk pancakes and let them help. If we're going to stay in, might as well eat a good breakfast! I found a great hearty recipe in Alice Waters' The Art of Simple Food, which the kids will actually eat.

2. Organize the legos. Sick of finding blue plastic bits in the bathroom? I dragged down a 3 drawer bin which is now home to everything Ninjago.

3. Let them make a fort out of couch cushions, then task the munchkins with dust-busting the living room.

4. Weigh everyone on your fancy-schmancy bathroom scale. This allows for at least 15 minutes of amusement, because little boys are beyond thrilled to find they've gained a pound or two. How's that for refreshing?

5. Take a bike ride to the cul-de-sac, allow everyone to scream their brains out, smile at the neighbors.

6. Invite a friend over for tea! Her warm and delightful presence will break up a long day, and after leaving your, shall we say enthusiastic home, she will have a fresh appreciation for her life!

7. Help them bake cookies. I keep a box of Cherrybrook Kitchen D.W. Sugar Cookie Mix in the cupboard. They taste good, are easy to make and don't have any junk in them (also no nuts, dairy or eggs, for that matter).

8. Encourage them to paint those pumpkins you bought for the front porch. Our kitchen table has a wonderful tablecloth that whisks off to provide a work surface for just such messy activities. Clean up with a sponge then hide the evidence.

Thunder's Angry Birds pumpkin & Lightening's mustachioed, camouflaged creation.

9. Go swimming in the bathtub (this is for them, not you--at least not at this point during the day). Sometimes when we're at the end of our rope, I'll let them take turns practicing their doggy paddle in the tub. Nothing like a long soak to get ready for bed!

10. Run around the house and try on your Halloween costume for the kids. This tends to blow their minds, which is entertaining. Last year's bomb of "Scary Witch" has made way for mommy's "Clown Ballerina". And for all you single ladies out there, have fun dressing up on your own like a sexy Catwoman/vampire/dead cheerleader! Ah, the good ol' days...

Anyone wanna carpool?
Paris Vogue