It's been a little while since my last post, mostly due to the point that sickness has been running through the family and hit me hard, which is abnormal. I think I took my first legit sick day in over two years. So, I've decided what better topic to discuss than how to handle being a sick parent.
First, let's look at how to care for a sick husband/wife. The reality is that kids add a whole new dynamic to being sick. Before kids, if I or Faith were sick, we'd have some lazy days of TV watching, with the healthy spouse waiting hand and foot on the unhealthy one. With kids, that becomes more challenging. First, you must decide, "Should you both stay home, one being sick and the other taking care of kids, if they're at home, or can you handle having the kids all day even though your sick?" If your kids go to daycare, preschool, etc., this is an easy one. Don't keep them home, even though you'll be tempted, because you need your rest. The most important thing is for the sick patient to rest and begin the healing process. Therefore, the healthy spouse must step up to the plate! Men, this may mean you take the kids out of the house for a while, go out to eat, and entertain the kids so your wife can rest. Women, this goes the same for you if your husband is sick. I know for stay-at-home moms this can be difficult as you've already been with the kids all day, but you chose that life and you need to do for your husband what you would want your husband to do for you. I know sometimes I brag on my wife, but she was awesome this last time I was sick. Granted, she doesn't see me sick often, but she would have served me food in bed all day if I would have let her.
On the flip side, if you are the sick one, you need to be aware that you can be a burden. From experience with others, I have definitely noticed that for some reason most women deal with sickness better that men, especially mothers. Therefore, Men, sometimes you must suck it up. You may be feeling horrible and you may need rest, which you need to get, but don't make your wife baby you! Don't take her for granted as so many men do. I'm not saying to not act sick, because if you are then you need to do all you can to heal, but because your spouse with be exerting extra energy taking care of the children, you don't want him/her to feel like she/he needs to exert more energy on you. Likewise, sickness shouldn't prevent you from helping at the house but allow you to "work from home" or go places. If you can do those things, then you can help with the kids.
Being a sick parent is not fun, and being the healthy parent can take a lot of extra energy, but part of being a parent/spouse is being selfless, not just for your kids, but for your spouse as well, which sometimes we forget once the children arrive.
Financial Tip-of-the-Day!
Rather than take your tax return money and spend it all on a vacation, new piece of furniture, ect., put in toward something the will acquire more wealth in the future (mutual fund, stock, etc.).
