Sick Day

We all have them and they usually, mostly, suck! Before having a child, I didn't necessarily mind sick days so much (besides the actual being sick part) because it meant a day of some rest on the couch by myself watching whatever I wanted and sleeping as much as I could. Today, with a toddler, a sick day looks a little different.

I'm not sure I should even call it a sick day because as a parent we don't really get those, do we? I woke up last Friday with a cold and literally dreaded my husband leaving in the morning for work leaving me with a child to take care of when all I wanted to do was go back to sleep. All I could think about was how "bad" of a parent I was about to be that day. I had no intentions of getting either of us dressed and planned on giving Jase whatever he wanted to eat, whatever toys he wanted to play with and letting him watch anything that would keep him still or in my view! I basically didn't care what Jase was doing as long as he wasn't going harm himself.. or me.

As I sat on the couch with my toddler watching Monster, Inc all I could think about was "no TV before three". Now, before I go any further let me tell you, we watch TV in this house. I leave it on all day when home as background noise. So far, Jase hasn't seemed to actually watch TV (unless it's FROZEN or a commercial) for long periods so I don't worry about him become a TV kid, at least not yet. That said, I don't really think it's the best thing in the world for a child to sit in front of the TV for a long period of time, especially at his age. BUT here I was putting on a movie hoping he would sit through it or at least not roam far and play with his toys in front of me. I basically didn't want to move if I didn't have to. Thankfully he must have realized mommy wasn't feeling well and he sat with me for a bit and then would play and come back and sit again. We did this basically all day until daddy came home. This mommy was SO thankful for that!

So, after the day was done and my husband was home I realized that one day of me being a "bad" parent didn't seem to affect Jase at all. He still wanted to play with dad when he got home, he still ate his dinner and wanted to go to his playroom upstairs to play and read books after dinner. I decided to give myself a little slack and realize though my sick days look a little different I can teach my son that it's ok sometimes to sit and relax. Hey, maybe I'm even teaching him to take care of his loved ones when their sick (you're welcome future wife of his :-)). The toddler cuddles may have made me feel better too! So, momma's and dad's too, lets give ourselves some slack and remember that our kids need us healthy so take that sick day!

<3 Lindsey

My nurse, Jase, playing peek-a-boo with Mommy's blanket.