Sick as a Mother

Rewind to a couple of years ago to before I was a mom; when I was sick and praying to the porcelain God. I wondered how anyone would have the energy to wrangle a toddler during a time like this. If you couldn't get out of bed how were you supposed to entertain and care for an energetic little being?

Now, as a mother, I have a new distaste and appreciation for sayings like "a mother doesn't have time to be sick" or "moms don't get sick." Let me tell you right now I have been sick more in my two short years of being a mother, than in my 28 years prior. Kids are little petri dishes for germs. Once he started going to day care the whole family was plagued with various illnesses for about 6 months. On top of all the germs being passed around between day care, work and the family I am so much more run down as a mother, than I was before. Go figure that! I was exhausted, not exercising stellar self care and I would get sick. Who would have thought?

I have been the mom on the couch with a high fever and chills. I've poured out snacks on the coffee table, put out his favorite toys and turned on Sesame Street so my little wild one would be entertained for a couple of hours until my husband got home.

Moms DO get sick and they get sick lots. There are plenty of times when we have to tough it out and manage because we don't have sick time, or our kid was sick, or we were the only care taker. We have all toughed it out and been very thankful when the day was done and we could collapse on the bed.

However, this does not mean that we should always have to tough it out, or that we don't have the right to act like we are sick. If I am really sick, and not in a great place to care for my son, I will ask one of our wonderful family members to watch him, drop him off at day care, or have my husband stay home with him. If you are able to have someone else watch your child while you are sick it doesn't make you a weak mom, or a bad mom. It allows you to care for yourself so that you can heal faster and be a better mom.

It's important to tend to your needs since you have to take care of others. If I'm sick I let me husband know and ask him to do a little more to give me some time to take it easy. And I do the same thing for him when he is sick. We work as a team and step up when the other one needs it.

And do not feel like you are less of a mom for going to the doctor or taking a sick day. You already go above and beyond daily. You have sacrificed your body and changed your life style. You now pee when you laugh, get up at ungodly hours and know the words to every new kid's movie that comes out. You deserve to be healthy and well cared for, so take care of yourself. Take the sick day when you need it. Lean on family and friends when you have to heal and get yourself checked out when you have concerns. A healthy mama means less drama!