It's probably a familiar picture to most, you wake up and realize instantly you're sick. Be it a flu or something you ate, maybe even just a bad cold. It only takes a few moments to remember that you still have to get the kids up and fed, but you're groggy and stuffy and your head hurts so who knows what time it is. This leads to so many questions, but by the time you sit up and start thinking, you feel more nauseaus and make a dash for the bathroom.
So as your on the floor emptying your stomach, you start to wonder why the child who pounded on the door before walking in is crying. If they don't want to see mommy sick, then maybe they should leave her to be sick all alone in the one room that has a lock. Of course you remember that it locks after they're already in, that's the only time it matters.
That's when I pick up my phone an call the nearest family member on a day off. Why? Because chances are if I have a migraine or flu, there will be a lot of crying and it won't all be from a child. How moms can cook meals, do laundry, and not lose their mind all while nursing a sore throat and breathing through their mouths is completely beyond me. I've done it, but I have no idea how.
The phone conversation usually ends with "if it's still that bad later/tomorrow/next week I'll come help" or, in the case of a migraine someone arriving shortly to rescue me. At least with a flu I can stand up straight and reach a cup, so the sympathy is usually less.
I always wonder though why my daughter cries when I'm sick. She gets to eat anything that doesn't make me feel worse (no sunny side up eggs!) and watch TV in her pajamas. It's like a sick day without her actually being sick. She is now reaching the age where she can get simple snacks and fill mommy's water bottle, so it's a little easier then the demanding "I want juice NOW" phase. It's also nice to have water and apple sauce brought to you, even if you have to throw towels down before you walk through the puddle of water and the apple sauce comes a jar at a time and rarely with a spoon. I think it helps her learn to care for others and she appreciates how hard I work when she's sick to brig her why she needs.
I also get more cuddles when I'm sick. It doesn't really help a cold, just gets her close enough to catch it, but it keeps her where I can see her and I can even nap knowing where she is. It's just the crying I can't stand. She cries because she's scared that her invincible and fixes everything mommy doesn't look so invincible, and she cried because it sounds like my throat/tummy/head hurts and she is sad when mommy hurts, and sure she cried because she doesn't want to catch it. I've learned that if I need to throw up the only way to do it is during a good cartoon behind a locked door.
This is where children learn to take advantage when you're week. If mommy is tired they get more cartoons, if mommy can stand the smell or look of food they get to snack and eat cereal all day, and if mommy has a headache then mommy won't yell. They also know mommy can't run up or down stairs so it takes longer to catch them doing something wrong, or after you find out what they did its harder to catch them to make them clean it or sit in a time out. Don't think they won't take advantage of that! I still haven't figured out how to get some things done, so often it just doesn't get done, but if the crying stops Im happy to ignore the mess.
I think if kids feel so bad for us when we don't feel well, they should just behave all day, enjoy the lack of structure, and maybe a day off if I'm too sick to drive (it's happened, I hope I'm not the only one that's had to do it) and stop causing trouble. Goodness knows I don't rip their books, draw with their make up all over the mirror, or dump their toys on the floor and wait for them to pick them up.
So how do you get it all done? I no one can help you then how do you cook their meals and keep them safe and the house clean when you're so sick you hear the bed calling you?