Spring Sickies
Posted on April 13, 2010 by FoBaM-Jamie
There should be a law against catching cold in springtime. Seriously. As if we don’t endure enough sick days and sleepless nights in winter, does it really have to carry over into the next season? There’s something especially unfair about spring sickies. The sun is shining, the temps are warming up, the birds are singing, and you’re stuck on the couch sipping ginger ale and nibbling Saltines. Bad enough if you’re a grown up, but when you’re a kid the injustice seems outrageous.
As you might have guessed, I’ve got my own spring sickie home with me today. Instead of bouncing happily off to school (leaving mummy to get her work done), the little angel is wrapped up on the couch in pink polar fleece blankets, watching all the television shows that are usually off limits. Since her illness is pretty benign (a cough and a low grade fever), she’s in her glory. She gets to stay home from school, watch unlimited TV, and have me wait on her hand and foot. As she likes to say, “This is the life!”
I can’t say I blame her. I’ve heard more than one mom confess fantasies of being temporarily bedridden by some minor ailment … just enough to take her out of commission for a couple days. It wouldn’t be such a bad thing to derail the daily grind for 24 or 48 hours. I remember when I was my daughter’s age – I kind of enjoyed sick days, too. My mom would set me up on the “gold couch” – an upholstered monster in a shade of green-gold that was outlawed after 1977. TV wasn’t always an option, but my mom would often read aloud to me. I have one particularly fond memory of her reading to me from Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonrider series. It was so pleasant to just close my eyes and drift off, riding the sound of her voice to another world where I could forget my tummy ache.
Hmm … maybe it’s time to go turn off the boob tube and crack open a book for my daughter. There’s no reason I can’t enjoy her sick day with her. Sure, there’s work to be done, but the world isn’t going to crash down around my ears if I step off the work treadmill for an hour. Yeah. Excuse me. I’ve got a date with a book and a little girl. Be back later.
As you might have guessed, I’ve got my own spring sickie home with me today. Instead of bouncing happily off to school (leaving mummy to get her work done), the little angel is wrapped up on the couch in pink polar fleece blankets, watching all the television shows that are usually off limits. Since her illness is pretty benign (a cough and a low grade fever), she’s in her glory. She gets to stay home from school, watch unlimited TV, and have me wait on her hand and foot. As she likes to say, “This is the life!”
I can’t say I blame her. I’ve heard more than one mom confess fantasies of being temporarily bedridden by some minor ailment … just enough to take her out of commission for a couple days. It wouldn’t be such a bad thing to derail the daily grind for 24 or 48 hours. I remember when I was my daughter’s age – I kind of enjoyed sick days, too. My mom would set me up on the “gold couch” – an upholstered monster in a shade of green-gold that was outlawed after 1977. TV wasn’t always an option, but my mom would often read aloud to me. I have one particularly fond memory of her reading to me from Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonrider series. It was so pleasant to just close my eyes and drift off, riding the sound of her voice to another world where I could forget my tummy ache.
Hmm … maybe it’s time to go turn off the boob tube and crack open a book for my daughter. There’s no reason I can’t enjoy her sick day with her. Sure, there’s work to be done, but the world isn’t going to crash down around my ears if I step off the work treadmill for an hour. Yeah. Excuse me. I’ve got a date with a book and a little girl. Be back later.
As my sister would say, “Well, crap!” My kids are sick as well-of course I got it first-lol! Yesterday they acted like they were DYING in the morning, but of course by the time their doctor’s appt’s rolled around they were FINE! *rolls eyes* I think the mommy-sick-fantasy is just that (a fantasy!) I’ve suffered migraines for years and find that any pampering I’d enjoy is obliterated by pain and then boredom and frustration. I spent 36 hours earlier this week in my pitch-black bedroom and thinking about how many days I’ve “lost” is upsetting. I hope that your girl feels better soon, and think that you dropping everything to read to her is wonderful/lovely.
@Shangrila – Hello, friend.
Sorry I missed this comment earlier. Crazy week – tending the ill offspring and then – alas! – falling ill myself. Just one fun-filled day after another around here this week. 
No worries – we’re both (knock on wood) on the mend now & ready to get back to enjoying the season. SO sorry to hear about your migraine … sounds awful, though – having never had one – I’m sure I can’t truly appreciate the reality of the situation. Ugh. Thanks for stopping by.