On Being Sick:

This post was inspired by A.) the cold I'm suffering through at the moment, and B.) a post I originally posted on my personal blog last year during cold season...

I have come to the conclusion that all stay-at-home parents who have survived a cold, flu, or anything that produces mucus or a fever, deserve the highest medal, the most exalted honor that could ever be bestowed upon a person.

I've been sick for the last couple of days, and it has not been one speck of fun. Before kids, I used to enjoy getting sick. My mom used to make pots and pots of homemade chicken soup and, besides gargling saltwater (ugh), my sick days consisted of lounging in bed and watching movies like The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink, until I felt strong enough to go back to school. I wasn't in much of a rush, to be sure.

Now there is nothing enjoyable about being sick. Not only do I look like a corpse, as my olive skin turns a sickening shade of puce when the golden tan is replaced by the deathly pallor of influenza, but instead of getting to curl up and die, I get to make endless trips to the bathroom, to keep my newly-potty-trained two year old in check, fetch non-stop sippy cups of juice, and watch the ever-so-talented Gracie balance plastic plates on her head while shouting, "Lookit me, lookit me!" - all through a fever induced haze.

Cold and flu season is in full swing, and other moms out there - I'm telling you now that if you survive it GOOD FOR YOU! You might not get a medal to prove that you survived the worst kind of torture, but just know that you have my utmost respect and understanding if you do happen to pull through.

And, of course, be sure to print out the official certificate:

You can have this fabulous certificate framed and proudly posted on your wall for all to see. Go ahead. You deserve it.

Okay, now I'm going back to bed, as I'm still in the "I just want to die" stage of my illness. Hopefully these kids will let me take a 5 minute nap before the next round of demands begin.

xoxo,