In Sickness and In Health

Tuesday, April 7, 2009
I was up most of the night last night with Harper. Something was wrong, but it took me until 4:00 this morning to find out what it was. She fell asleep with no problems, but about 45 minutes later, she awoke crying...in the middle of "24" and Jack Bauer. Not the best timing, for me anyway.

I went to her room to see what was the problem. She was sweating so I figured she was hot. I pulled her comforter down and pulled the sheet back over her. She wanted me to climb into bed. OK, now I draw the line at sleeping with my kids. It's not something we've indulged and for good reason. But who can deny a sick child? For the next 30 minutes, she tossed and turned. Something was bothering her physically. She finally fell asleep only to wake again an hour later. Still whining, tossing, turning, we went downstairs to watch TV. She watched one show and fell asleep, but woke, yet again...

The rest of the details, I'll omit, but suffice it to say that the entire evening continued in this manner. At 4:00 am, she finally told me that her ear hurt and after taking 2 Tylenols, she fell asleep until 9:00 this morning.

This whole episode got me to thinking about how working parents handle this kind of situation. I can tell you that I would have been a bit annoyed about my sleep deprivation if I had to get up for work this morning. Plus, who gets up in the middle of the night if both of you work? You? The hubby? Would an argument follow? And what if a sick child stays home from school? Who stays home? How do you decide? I can safely say that a sick child home from school would probably create a lot of marital discord if I were a working mom. I just don't think Henry and I would agree on how to make compromises for our sick children with regards to our careers.

So, again, I'm happy to be a stay-at-home mom where these types of decisions don't weigh on me or my husband. I don't envy working parents one bit when it comes to the sick child. It's tough. For me, I like to think of it as an argument averted.

And yes, we will be seeing the pediatrician today!

1 comment

Pootsie said...

Oh no!!! Poor Harper! I hope the doctor visit went well and that she's feeling better by now. You make some very good points about the problems that parents face when both work outside the home! It sounds as though your decision to be a stay at home mom is the right one for you guys!