"As a type A person, I would look forward to getting legitimately sick so I could relax without guilt."

I read this statement this morning in the linked blog and thought, damn! She just articulated my EXACT feelings. I absolutely crave a day here and there where I am sick enough to justify staying home and not suffer the dreaded guilt that comes with slacking. But, as a mom I can't really do that either because I need to be "on" when my kids are home from school. I also need to be "on" and go to work when I'm sick because my KIDS might get sick and have to stay home from school. If they get sick then I must swim in guilt as my conflicting emotions beat me about like a pinball in a machine. I'm guilty about staying home and abandoning my brothers at work (when I am not there they must pick up my load). I'm guilty about being conflicted while caring for my sick or hurt child -- how dare I think about work when my baby is not well??? What kind of mother am I?

Appreciating being sick. Who would have thought we should appreciate the luxury of being sick before we are moms? Insane sounding, but so true. I do appreciate what it was like to embrace sickness and to be cared for by my husband or my Mom. To have someone you love bring you medicine while you lay on the couch watching TV and dozing... that is truly a feeling of being cherished and loved.

When I had pneumonia this year my kids tried to get in the act of caring for me. They are 9 and 10. They would come into the room, cover me with my blanket, and lay across me to hug me. They were both so tender. I'm glad strolling through memories brought this image back to me today. They have been testing limits and I need to remember their sweet sides more when we are in a limit testing mode. Oh to have more of those hugs! Can you ever get enough?