Moms everywhere are familiar with the scenario: You're nursing your child through a bout with a bad cold or stomach flu, knowing all the while that within a few days, you'll be experiencing the same misery yourself.

Before you had children, it was probably fairly easy to avoid catching illnesses; you simply stayed away from people who were sick until they got better! Now, as a mother, your natural compassion and love for your kids throws you right onto the frontlines comforting, cleaning, wiping, and keeping watch at the bedside through the night.

Catching the latest virus going around is one of the on-the-job hazards of being a mother, especially if your child is in school or daycare. Most of us have come to accept this as a fact of life, but it's something all parents dread.

Concerns about new, stronger viruses, such as H1N1, have caused many parents to set illness-prevention as a high priority. Flu can, at times, lead to more serious problems, bringing with it the emotional and financial strain of hospital stays and medical bills.

Even if the illness is your garden-variety seasonal complaint, it's still no fun. When the whole family ends up passing around a bug, it can lead to lost time at work and school, expenditures for over-the-counter remedies, and the stress generated by a household of unhappy individuals.

Luckily, you're not completely helpless against the invisible invaders among us. There are strategies you can put to use to help keep you protected, strong and healthy even when other people in your household are sick.