My daughter does not get sick often...in fact the last time she was sick was 2019! But, when she gets sick, she gets siiiiiccckkkk. She came home from work so sick on Saturday. So Saturday night I ran to Walgreens and stocked up on medicine and OJ and Gatorade---most of which I knew she wouldn't even use, but hey, you never know. As I was driving home, I was struck with such nostalgia. When my kids were little and would get sick, I realized their dad and I would not only be stressed about them being sick, but the extra expense that comes along with it was added stress. I thought about how life is so different now, how I go through the store and pick up whatever is needed and I don't even look at the prices. There is such a freedom in that that I never imagined having. I realized I missed things and thank heavens for door dash and Walmart delivery because I was not running out again. But on the way home my mind went to who takes care of me when I am sick. Thankfully that is rare. I remember being sick in 2021 for 4 days and that was not common. When I was married before kids if I got sick my ex-husband was sicker (I actually laughed out loud when I typed that - so typical) so I thought back to my childhood. I remember my dad being the one to take care of me, which was so bizarre. He used to make me tea with lemon and honey and I would pour it down the sink and tell him I drank it. Rocket scientist I was, I didn't wipe the sink down so he knew I was full of it. I remember once my mom forced me to eat Alphabet soup and I told her it was making me sick...she didn't listen and well, we were spelling things as I threw up the entire bowl. I remember her holding back my hair (probably feeling awful for making me eat it - creamed spinach 2.0) and I was so annoyed I didn't want to be touched.
I never forced my kids to eat or drink anything they didn't want when they were sick (or ever really). I remember going for the chocolate Entenmann's and my mom saying THAT's what you're going to eat? Yup...soothes my soul and always settled my stomach. Anyway, I digress. I was really confused as to why it was my dad I remember taking care of me when I was sick, so I asked my sister what she remembered. She also remembered my dad touching her forehead for a fever in the middle of the night. She remembered the tea with honey and lemon, and she said my mom making poached eggs on toast (ummm, no I never had that, probably after the Alphabet soup fiasco) My sister realized she never thought about this stuff. I am weird, I know. I am very interested in why I do the things I do and what wounds are triggered by what. I came to the conclusion that my mother had a routine and us being sick was a huge monkey wrench in that routine. Plus, she was probably very afraid of getting sick herself. I always found it miraculous that I didn't get whatever my kids had when they were little. I snuggled them, kissed them, was thrown up on, coughed on - I was kinda indestructible, I guess. Because I could not afford to get sick! Which brings me to this morning...I was freezing during the night. I didn't have chills and it IS winter in SD so yea, I needed more blankets. But then....my eyes opened and bam. I felt the feeling. You know.... that flulike head and your eyes hurt, and my body was not my friend. I was like ummm no....that is not happening I have to make Chili for 80 people tonight and I have to work and I have absolutely no time to be sick. Tylenol - check. Advil - check. Set alarms to remind myself to give Lu her meds and for me to take mine. Took the most DISGUSTING cough medicine known to man and poof. In the kitchen, making chili and feeling normal. I am so very grateful! This afternoon my little Lulu even came out of her room! She's still pretty sick but definitely better. She's a very good patient which makes it so easy.
I guess the whole point of this was how 1 trip to the drugstore could take me
down this wild nostalgic road this weekend and got me realizing that maybe I got my nurturing side from my dad after all. I just always assumed it was my mom. I also realize that most parents or people feel like in order to be well you have to do things that are yucky - maybe because that's what they were always taught. Not me. If you're already feeling sick, why not just eat or drink what makes you feel happy. Kinda like life - why do things you hate just because someone says you have to or it's good for you? Life is too short to be anything but happy and to do anything but what makes your heart smile surrounded by people who lift you up. And do your very best to realize...it's never just a day in the life.
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