Nothing worse then a sick child...well except maybe a sick household. Hard enough taking care of your kid when they are sick, but when your under the weather too it's really hard.
Sounds like an old wives tail, but take a ton of vitamin C and drink lots of water. It really does knock out most colds very quickly.
During the flu season I don't get the vaccine, I take 1000mg of vitamin C twice a day and haven't had the flu except once in the last 10 years. This is with 2 kids in school bringing home germs. Used to get it every year and sometimes twice before I started this routine.
Hope everyone gets better!