Mommy Moments
Sometimes Being Sick is not So Bad – A Thank You!
By Krista Martinelli
Sometimes when you’re a parent and you get sick, you can’t get a break. It’s not like the good old days when you were single and could take a day or two off from work, actually resting. Actually doing nothing.
So this past month when I felt a lump in my throat and the beginning stages of either a cold or the flu, I was not looking forward to the usual running around, doing homework, disciplining, cooking and all of those things that you never stop doing for your kids.
And this time, the not-so-lovely feeling of an oncoming cold was worse than usual. Scratchy throat, aching muscles and a gripping headache at the back of my head like I’ve never experienced before. If only I could get a little extra rest somewhere in my day or night, maybe I could get through it quickly and shake it off. That wish is almost laughable though, because I’ve never been able to do it as the parent of young kids and the owner of a business. Yeah, right…rest!
This is really a “thank you” to my terrific friends and family who made that possible. Yes, I rested this time. And I recovered quickly! First, thanks to my friend who always comes in for the hug, even when I’m sick. “Bring it on” is her attitude toward germs, and it’s kind of nice to have a reliable friend who will hug you even when you’re at the sickest stage of being sick.
This is also a thank you to my friend who eagerly asked to pick up my daughter from elementary school on the worst day of my being sick. This gave me an extra hour to rest, which was priceless. She also gave me some medicine to help me through the next few days. It doesn’t hurt that she’s a nurse and is able to explain what to take and what not to take, etc.
So I’m feeling some relief already because of a little nap. Then one of my neighbors surprises me by knocking on the door and delivering warm butterscotch oatmeal cookies – yum! She notices that my voice is very scratchy and offers to have both our kids come over to her house to “entertain” her one-year-old baby boy. My kids think this is a great idea and suddenly I get to rest some more. “This is amazing,” I’m thinking to myself. Still miserable with congestion and the huge headache, but – wow! The kindness of people around me is overwhelming.
Normally on a Friday afternoon I take the kids to visit their grandparents, my husband’s parents. I never want to stand in the way of grandparents getting to see the kids and vice versa. However, I’m vaguely remembering that the last time we accidentally brought sickness into their home, Grandma was sick for over three weeks. We can’t have that happen again! Since Grandma and Grandpa are approaching ninety years old, I come up with a plan that they agree to – so I’m not spreading the germs. I drop off the kids at their house just before dinner time and get out immediately. Knock on wood, it worked. And I want to thank these grandparents for the energy that they still have, being able to keep up with a six-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy. They are terrific!
Again I’m finding myself with something I haven’t had much of since the kids were born – “alone time.” I’m happy to know that they (Grandma, Grandpa, my husband Joe and the kids) are having a wonderful dinner. Meanwhile, I’m recovering and doing all of those things that people tell you to do – like drinking tea with honey, relaxing, spending a little time being quiet. For the first time in ages, I go to bed early.
My husband is looking out for me and brings home a little leftover lobster. The next morning I wake up and feel 95% better. I have enough energy to clean up the house, play games with the kids and get some work done. My throat still sounds scratchy, but now the headache is gone. And I know what I’m making for lunch – a lobster roll! My taste buds are already coming back, so as I’m squeezing a lemon over the mix of lobster, mayo, salt and pepper, I’m getting excited about it.
So yes, life is good. “Life is Good” is also the name of the Komen Race team that I usually walk with. And I haven’t even yet mentioned several other terrific people who offered to do nice things for me when they heard my sick-sounding voice. Thank you! It’s good to feel like everyone around you is looking out for you! After this experience, I just might turn into a hypochondriac.