Remember being sick as a child? I mean there are moments we recall from childhood that are so precious, but few beat when you stayed home from school and were taken care of by your parent. I mean the whole day would be spent on the couch; I would always bring my big Winnie the Pooh comforter with me. I'd get to just curl up and spend the rest of the day in that spot.
I'd be watching either daytime television or cartoons. Every 2 hours as the doctor ordered, my meds would be taken. I'd drink tea or soup and take an epic nap. This was a healing process so love filled that I really didn't appreciate.
I recall the times my mom would administer my meds (like the great RN she is), keep me company, and just sympathize for her sick baby. There is this oil that she'd rub on my back. It was soothing and just made me feel relaxed and better. At night my dad would read me a story and hang out with his sick baby. There was just all this love and effort put into feeling better as a child. Having called out of work this past week due to illness just confirmed the cruel reality of how much better sick days are as a child.
This past Wednesday I was surrounded by my walls, comforted by Hulu off my tablet and an epic nap. While the nap was still amazing the isolation was sad. I called a few folks including my mother, and she got back to me the next day. The sick baby isn't a baby anymore and mama is a busy woman living her life. It's a hard reality for me knowing the days of my mom tending to me while I'm sick are numbered. I have to take care of myself now.
I'm responsible for my doctor appointments, picking up prescriptions, drinking water and getting exercise. Adulting is all fun and games until life gets real. Those times spent on the couch are nostalgic and I cherish them. I don't have anyone at the moment to take care of my when I'm sick and it makes the recovering all the more lonely and difficult. But I'm going to be strong, I'm going to be positive. I'm going to thank God for making it. As I approach 26 next month I fear what will happen once I'm not covered by insurance under my parents.
What insurance can I afford? Will I have enough Albuterol for my inhaler until I can afford another one? What if I have new allergies and accidentally ingest something my body rejects. Being sick as an adult on a low income is quite scary as far as I'm concerned. I do not know what'll entail but I know to be better to my body and to get myself out of this limbo position.
My mom and I laughed over the phone of how I missed her care. While I can joke about it I am truly reminiscent of those great days. I appreciate the love and care (and my dad I don't mean to neglect his love). However, the pain and beauty of life is change. Those days are long gone, but that nurturing and healing power is one I wish to carry to my future children, thus giving them awesome sick days and love. The love I was shown by my mother.
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