Being Sick

My throat hurts!

When I was a kid, being sick meant snuggling. My mom would baby us: hug us, feel our foreheads, and just generally made sure we knew that she would do everything she could for us until we felt better. All we had to do was sleep and eat something if we felt up to it.

Now, as an adult with my own kids, feeling icky and cuddling with my Mommy is not an option (mostly because she’s 500 miles away). Instead, my husband has to use a sick day to stay home to look after the girls while I pass out and then maybe eat something if I’m feeling up to it.

The first time my husband got really sick, I was a bit alarmed. Not because when I felt his forehead he was burning up, but more because he didn't want me to feel his forehead. He also didn’t appreciate my attempts to get him something to drink, maybe some soup... he just wanted me to leave him alone, and went so far as to growl at me to get out. Both of us were confused: I wanted to take care of him like my mom did for me, and he didn’t get why I wouldn’t just go to the store to get him some orange juice and sprite like his mom would have.

I understand a bit better now what he wants me to do when he is sick. I can ask if he wants something to drink, or urge him to eat, but not so much that he gets annoyed. Mostly he wants me to take away empty cups or remake cold tea and let him sleep.   
When I’m sick, I give him instructions. “Come over here and feel my forehead. Now give me a hug. I’ll tell you when to stop. Don’t worry about the laundry, I’ll do it later.” Then he leaves me to sleep, so I call my mom.

"Mommy, my throat hurts!” I say.

She says, “My baby!” and I instantly feel a little better.