Right now, I’m battling a chest infection that might as well be pneumonia, bronchitis, or even something as dire as the bubonic plague. As a self-employed mother of two, visiting the doctor is way down my long to-do list, so I’m self-medicating and simply waiting for it to pass.
Last night, after a particularly intense coughing episode, I reminisced about the days before kids when being sick felt like a mini vacation. I’d wake up with a sniffle (often paired with a hangover) and charm my boss with my best raspy voice, convincing him that staying home was in everyone’s best interest. This would lead to a day of blissful rest—sleeping in until noon, indulging in a bacon sandwich (purely for medicinal purposes, of course), and binge-watching bad daytime TV in my pajamas. Occasionally, I’d even receive a visit from my mom, who would bring homemade chicken soup, or my then-boyfriend-now-husband would call with cough drops and comforting tissues.
Oh, how I miss those days!
Now, however, the reality is starkly different. Living in Spain and having no one to call in sick to, I’ve learned that when you’re a mom, illness comes with a set of unspoken rules. When I tell my mother I’m feeling under the weather, she chuckles knowingly, as if to say, “Welcome to the club.” After all, it’s only fitting for her to watch me navigate the same challenges she faced—like the time I hosted a birthday party for my two-year-old just days after my second child was born. Now, I’m perched on a high pedestal of “Supermom,” and there’s no getting down from it.
Even my husband, who should be a source of comfort, seems unfazed. Just this morning, while I was keeping everyone awake with my honking cough—likely alarming the neighbors—he suggested I sleep in the spare room so he could get a good night’s rest before a busy day. Thanks, love.
So here I am, now deep into my second week of sounding like a gravelly-voiced old man. I like to think my husky voice is alluring, but the reality is, I’m struggling to hit the high notes of Disney songs. Just this afternoon, during a violent coughing fit, I was on the phone with a client while my three-year-old yelled from the bathroom that she was done. I managed to hang up, only to stumble to the bathroom, gasping for air. My five-year-old rushed in, worry etched on her face, but her concern was short-lived. “I just wanna know when dinner will be ready,” she said, completely unfazed by my plight.
And that, dear friends, is what it means to be ill while juggling motherhood—always standing tall, even when you feel anything but.
For anyone interested in more insight about parenting challenges while being under the weather, check out this post on Cervical Insemination. It’s a great read! If you’re considering at-home insemination, Make A Mom offers reputable syringe kits that make the process easier. You can also find valuable information about donor insemination at American Pregnancy.
Summary
Navigating illness while parenting can be a daunting task, especially when you feel the weight of responsibilities and the expectations of motherhood. Whether dealing with a cough or just the everyday chaos of family life, it’s important to remember that resilience is key, and sometimes a good laugh is the best medicine.
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