One thing I have learned since becoming a mother is that everything I had grown accustomed to experiencing on my own is a completely NEW experience when children are involved. No exception to this rule:
'The Illness Experience'
Pre-Children Illness went a little something like this: Start feeling a tickle in the ol' throat around dinner time, curl up on the couch with some tea, hit the sack nice and early, wake up in the morning just in time to call in sick to work, pop a drowse-inducing tablet, sleep all day, and repeat if necessary until no longer ill. If I had a sick day like that today, I would wake up tomorrow feeling like I just got home from a 10-day all-inclusive vacation in the Caribbean!
That said, my children and I woke up a few days ago with congestion. Having just spent a weekend with my croup-coughing, phlegm-slinging niece, I had an unfortunate vision of what we were in for, and I wasn't wrong. Since then, my 20-month-old has been coughing like a chain smoker and blowing snot bubbles, and my 4-month-old has experienced his first fever. And through it all, I somehow only notice my personal ailments when the babies are peaceful, because all of my time and nervous energy have been spent making sure that:
a) they are not going to die; and,
b) they are as comfortable as possible.
Ailments that, 2 years ago, would have confined me to my bed for days, are now minor blips on the radar of motherhood.
What have I learned through all of this? Maybe I am one step closer to understanding why men seem so 'wimpy' during illness to us mothers. Most of these boyfriends and hubbies, fathers and brothers of ours are still enjoying cold and flu season as we once did, during Pre-Children Times. I've also learned that our little ones are actually a lot more resilient than they seem. Their tiny bodies truly are encased in invisible, germ-battle armor.
Helpful hints for 1st time mama's during cold and flu season:
- A cold air humidifier in baby's room at night will go a LONG WAY
- Eucalyptus in baby's bath before bed works wonders. We love JOHNSON'S® Soothing Vapor Baby Bath
- Rub a little bit of petroleum jelly under baby's nose after each wipe in order to keep away redness and pain
- Elevate baby's head at night to help them sleep. Our 4-month-old has been sleeping in his chair since he got congested and it has made a huge difference
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