When was the last time you called in sick? I can’t remember the last time I have. Now, granted I’m self-employed. But even so, there hasn’t been a day in which I’ve turned off the computer, sent off the kids, and crashed out on the couch all day long.
One day last week my husband called in sick to work. He was complaining of a sore throat. So he went back to bed, while I shuttled my son to kindergarten, and then my daughter to preschool. I stopped at a coffee shop to work for a couple hours until I had to pick the kids back up from school. We made a few other stops before we returned home at around 2 PM. Low and behold the hubby was still snoozing away in bed!
Now, I’m no Florence Nightingale and my husband knows it. I’m more likely to say, “You still lying there?” than “Aww… Darling, can I get you anything?” So of course when I discovered him in bed, I thought to myself, “What a whimp! A sore throat? Jeez…”
Am I a bitch? Or just jealous that I don’t give myself a full sick day for a sore throat every now and then? Sara’s “Permission to Get Sick” post from January captured it perfectly. Taking a sick day for yourself is like a luxury. Too often we battle through a sore throat, throbbing headache, or nasty cough so we can keep going like the Energizer bunny. Not to mention, sick days are usually saved so we can take care of a sick kid.
I hope karma doesn’t knock me down with a nasty flu now. If so, God as my witness, I’m going to take a sick day and not feel guilty about it!
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10 thoughts on “The Walking Sick”
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I know exactly what you mean. I worked for a day and a half with strep before I had to finally come home and crash. Then I tried to go to work again the next day and just couldn’t make it. Made a doc appt. and found out that I had strep. No wonder I was so miserable! But I worked anyway when I know I shouldn’t have so that I could save my sick time for when the kiddos are sick.
I hear you. I don’t know how many times I have toughed it out when my husband has stayed home with a slight headache. I think it is just assumed that moms never get sick and we don’t get breaks. No matter how great the husband is I have found that as a mom I must be “on” 24/7/365 and sick days are just not allowed.
I'm lucky that my husband is almost always willing to help out if I'm under the weather, and that's been a lot lately now that I'm pregnant. He also is one to power through an illness, just like me. So we're a good team. But that still doesn't mean I give myself permission to be sick that often. It's a rare day when I crawl into bed and really treat myself to some health-restoring R&R.
i cannot remember the last honest to goodness, sit on the couch and read a book all day sick day that i’ve taken… i think i’m long overdue. Too bad i used all my sick days on my kids 🙁
Your post hit home. Thanks 🙂
OMG. Husbands are ridiculous! I didn’t realize the extent to which I am unwilling to put up with his “I’m sick, poor pitiful me” behavior until my daughter was born. It’s like we’ve been go go Gadgeted back to the 1950s. My husband is helpful, FOR THE MOST PART, but being sick is a doozy. There is no time for it.
I know exactly how you feel. Even when I am down with a bad back, I am expected to take care of the 9 month old. He does do a lot around here, but not on my timeline. I dont ever really call in sick, I usually just work from home. 🙁
you have no idea how close to homethis hits! if my hubs feels a sore throat coming on, he is bedridden. okay, if i dropped what i was doing when i started not to feel well, i shudder to think what would happen to this household and it’s daily doings!
mom’s just don’t have this luxury!
but you know what!? I might try it soon. If anything, it would make for a great blog post!
Try not having a husband at all.
Then you REALLY can’t take a sick day. 🙂
You know I love you, Cala. Just razzin’.
I am lucky b/c Jason doesn’t really complain when he is sick.
I don’t take sick days for myself b/c I am usually taking care of kids.
But Jason wasn’t babied when he was sick as a child and therefore he grew up not complaining.. he just trucks on..
so let’s all remember this when raising our kids : )
If you are truly sick and you CHOOSE not to take a “sick day,” you have no one to bitch to but yourself. If, because of child care or other responsibilities you are UNABLE to take a sick day, then I will probably feel sorry for you. When I’m sick, too sick to work, I take a day off and go see the doctor. I rest so that I can heal and get back to the business of life. My husband does the same, and the healthy parent takes over all the household and childcare duties until the other one is back on his/her feet.