Moms Can’t Take Sick Days . . .

Krista W:

I’m sick. In the middle of a summer so blazing hot you would think no bacteria could survive, I somehow got sick. Friday morning I woke up with chills, fever, and a sore throat. I begged, through glossy fevered eyes, for my husband to stay home to help. No go. He couldn’t “swing it” as his job isn’t flexible or wasn’t for that day. I was solo, sick and sans help. 6:30 am Sutton wanted breakfast and the day seemed to be screaming at me to get out of bed. Oh Smarties, fever and all, the show must go on.

When our babies gets ill, we care for them. When our toddler swallows a stomach bug, we nurture them. When your husband gets ill, he climbs into bed and you assist him. So, what happens when WE get sick? Nothing, because Moms don’t get sick days.

I don’t have a regular nanny, and lets face it, sitters aren’t on standby right now (they are booked for the summer). I was solo and Sutton (the child who gets bored so fast it would impress a race car driver) needed attention. I needed sleep. I can’t just throw some cheerios at her, hop into bed, and pray she doesn’t get into any trouble while I rest up. Nope, I was on, no matter what. This particular day was booked solid with household duties including a visit from an electrician and an air conditioning technician. We are also heading to the beach and packing needed to be completed for me and the entire family. No sick day, not for this mom.

I KNOW I need to take care of myself, we all do. But, when the mom gets sick it disrupts the entire flow of the household. All the little things we do throughout the day to make sure everyone else gets cared for seem to be impossible to let slide. How can we let go for a day? I had to make sure the family had food for the beach, clean clothes to pack, and running air. As a mom our responsibilities are endless and often go unseen, until they are neglected for a day.

I guess as a mom you have to kiss certain things goodbye; vanity and sick days are just a few that top my list these days. I adore my “job”, but I long for the day when I can give into a fever and rest my tired body without putting everyone out. But, that day isn’t today. Today I’m fighting a cold all while trying to balance my natural state of dishevelment, and care for my family.

Bottoms up OJ and get to working Tylenol, we’re on in five!