Moms don't get sick days.
It's not part of the job description. The only thing worse than being sick is being sick and being a mom. The kids still need to eat, diapers still need changed and playtime supervised.
When my husband or daughter gets sick, I take his/her temperature and bring them juice. When I get sick, I take my own temperature and get woken up by someone who wants juice but can't find it in the fridge. Sometimes they also want help finding the refrigerator.
Gone are the days of happily crawling into bed with a good book and strong cold medicine.
As a parent, getting sick is part of the gig. Kids get sick and their germs follow them around, leaving little germ-friends behind to infect the rest of us. I'm not complaining, I am simply stating a fact.
Last week, I caught my daughter's virus. It started with a headache that travelled from the back of my neck and quickly spread through my whole body. But like most moms, I kept plugging along since dinner needed to be cooked and work needed to get done.
The next day, I felt like a truck hit me. A big one. Currently I am on day 10 of an unidentifiable cold and cough. I suspect this is the beginning of a zombie apocalypse. Households don't function smoothly when mom is sick. Imagine a world of moms with coughs and colds. Zombie apocalypse.
My husband is concerned for me and my daughter seems disgusted. They are afraid I am turning into a zombie with a runny nose and an incoherent attitude. After hacking up phlegm balls all night, my husband asked if I was okay. This really means: “You are keeping everyone awake. You should go somewhere and do something about that cough.”
What do you do when you need to take care of your kids, but you are sick? I 'm not talking about the in-the-hospital type of sick. I mean the kind of sick that makes you want to stay in bed.
Say yes to the television: When you're sick, the couch and the television are lifesavers. I was able to lie on the couch while the television served as a babysitter. I'm not proud but cartoons where the key to success. Donald Duck kept my daughter entertained while I enjoyed a few moments of rest.
Be lazy: If there is one small advantage to getting sick as a mom, you can be lazy. Super lazy. The house is going to look like a bomb went off. Don't worry about it and nap when your little one is napping. Drink tea, stay in your pajamas and order takeout.
Cancel all obligations: Everyone will understand if you don’t bring snack to preschool that day (heck, they’ll even thank you for not bringing it when you’re sick). Appointments can be rescheduled. It’s okay.
Find some good apps: There are so many easy, fun, and free apps for those of us with smartphones or tablets, most of which require little to no parent assistance. My daughter snuggled right up next to me in bed while she played. Fisher Price has dozens of free apps for toddlers. I fell in love with them.
Ask for help: When my husband is home from work, he is a super star. The house might be a little messy but he gets stuff done. Our daughter still eats, gets a bath and story time, while I get a few blessed hours of sleep.
As moms, it's okay to allow ourselves time to rest and recuperate. After all, what's good for Mom is good for the whole family.
