The Things We Moms Do For Love

I am a very small person, which is handy, because tonight I might be sleeping on the couch. Why? Because of the things we do for love. I didn’t fully appreciate what that looked like until I became a mom myself. Looking back on my childhood, I can see clearly all the things my mom did for love. I can only hope to do as well for my son, which brings me back to the couch.

My kid is sick with a virus of some kind. He woke up with a sore throat, so his dad and I decided it would be best if he stayed home from school. I wasn’t sure if it was one of those “would-rather-be-watching-Minecraft-video” bugs or if it was legitimate. I erred on the side of caution and kept him calm for the day. He wasn’t eating much and was laying around with his laptop in my bed. He stumbled out of my room.

“Mommy! I feel like I’m going to barf. Can I have a bucket?” he pleaded. I grabbed him a bowl and sent him on his way. I went to look for him a few minutes later and found him camped out in my bathroom next to the toilet with his bowl and his laptop. Moments later, he was reunited with the cheese strings he ate earlier and it was very gross. I decided he should probably just go to bed. Then came the negotiations.

You see, Mommy’s bed is much more comfortable, with lots of room to stretch out. On occasion, I have been known to let him sleep in my bed with me. Unfortunately with his current viral state, I was not motivated to have him breathe on me all night.

I believe in sharing, but I draw the line at communicable diseases.

He looked so pathetic and I just couldn’t say no. I could sleep in his room, but the couch is comfy and it’s not uncommon for me to drift off to sleep watching Netflix. This is my authentic life, it’s not always Better Homes and Gardens, but we try. So here I am on the couch.

I crept back in my room to change into pjs and found him sleeping peacefully. His barf bucket is on the floor beside the bed, next to his memory foam pillow that HE COULD NOT POSSIBLY SLEEP WITHOUT but didn’t bother sleeping on. Looking at him safely in dreamland, I realize I’m small enough to fit on the couch, but in being his mom, my heart couldn’t feel bigger. The things we do for love.

Do you have sick day rituals with your kids?