Sick Days

When I was a wee one, sick days meant time at home with Mom tucked snugly into the couch with a pillow and a favorite blanket. All the cartoons you could watch and flat ginger ale. Perfect.

As I got a little older, sick days often took on a new meaning and probably should have been renamed “Mental Health” days. You know the reasons…too many assignments due all the same week and your way behind. One too many tests coming up and you’ve spent too much time at swimming practice and not enough at the books. Or maybe it’s just that you can’t face that super bitchy girl today and need 1 day to re-group. A mental health day was the best gift your Mom could ever give you because you could get all caught up on everything you’ve let slide and swear you would never let yourself get that behind again! I’m still thankful for those fresh starts and when my babes start feeling the pressure I’m the first Mom to offer a Mental Health Day.

Once you hit University the meaning of the sick day morphs yet again. If your missing those Uni classes it’s probably because you found a great kegger the night before and have a bad case of the “self induced flu” with a side of “fear of vomiting in public” going on.

During the next stage of your life..you have that coveted job, your living on your own and paying your own way. No more sick days. There is too much work, too many bills and not enough time.

Once your married..a sick day might be used to squeak out an extra long weekend with your new hubby Ah …. I remember those days!

Well where am I now? Two kids of my own now and I’m sitting here watching my baby on the couch. She’s all tucked in with her favorite blanket and pillow, watching the same cartoon for the 4th time (I’m so tired of Wayside) and sipping on Chicken noodle soup and flat ginger ale.
I feel blessed that I’ve come full circle and hope one day my girls are able to stay home with their babies on their “sick days”. Guess I better go call my Mom and thank her for sticking it out with me on my sick days.