12 Most Rejuvenating Reasons to Stay in Bed
Yes, I have just stayed in bed for two days straight. I literally did not get off this bed for anything but food and bio breaks, and most of the food was kindly brought to me by my dear husband.
I managed to get a lot of thinking done in the last two days. Not really business-like strategic thinking, and unfortunately, since I had no voice I couldn’t even make phone calls — but I did get a bit of work done. One of the things I did think about was this post… and here are my thoughts.
1. Men do it all the time
My apologies to all the men out there for the stereotype, but from my experience, you get to stay in bed every stinkin’ time you’re sick. Mothers hardly ever do. Sometimes we deserve to recover in complete solitude with actual, real rest as well.
2. Catching up on recorded TV
On my first day in bed I watched 15 recorded episodes of General Hospital. Yes, I still indulge in this one trashy soap opera. It was a great way to spend the better part of a sick day.
3. Watching movies
After my General Hospital episodes ran out I started watching some movies I hadn’t had a chance to watch yet. I love OnDemand TV for that. I spent the second half of the day getting my fill of some great dramas that my dear husband never had an interest in.
4. Popsicles
You don’t need to explain why you need yet another popsicle… you just get it. Free reign on the freezer. This could work with ice cream too… but I didn’t have any.
5. The kids learn to depend on someone else
Being a work at home mother, I spend quite a bit more time with my children than my husband, so the kids depend on me for pretty much everything. I am the one they run to first, no matter what the question. It was nice, even if I was in terrible pain, to get a break from that responsibility.
6. Rest
I cannot overstate the importance of being able to just fall asleep whenever you feel the need whilst being sick. It was heaven to just be in bed, sleeping and waking at will.
7. Temporary butlers
My children were so saddened by the idea that Mommy was the one who was sick and laid up that they would run and fetch me anything my heart desired. Too bad I didn’t have one of those little bells to ring.
8. Cooking
My husband can cook! Albeit he made Kraft Dinner with hot dogs one day and western sandwiches the next, but he still cooked and I didn’t have to tell him what or how. They were actually pretty good, too. I think I’m biased though — whenever you don’t have to cook things automatically taste much better, don’t they?
9. Ignoring work
These two days in bed were the first time in weeks that I really felt I had a good enough excuse to just sit back and relax without doing any work on the weekend. Being an entrepreneur you don’t get much time off, and it usually takes something dramatic, so I admit — I took advantage of the opportunity to the fullest extent possible.
10. Keep it to yourself
Hubby did take the children out for lunch both days and I stayed home. I wanted to go to get some decent food, but I didn’t. Better to stay home than to spread the germs with the world.
11. Extra cuddles
My kids came in to check on me regularly and always wanted to cuddle. I always cuddle them when they’re sick, so I’m sure they were simply returning the favor. It was nice to get a few extra hugs throughout the day… when the fever didn’t make it actually hurt for them to hug me.
12. No need to shower
Why waste time getting up and having a shower, just to go back to bed? Save your energy and expensive shower gels. A shower can wait until you go back to work.
Those are all the reasons why, despite having a killer sore throat and fever this weekend, I actually enjoyed staying at home and in bed for two whole days. It’s nice to know the family can go on without you for a day or two. It makes me feel a little more comfortable taking some downtime next time I get a virus. Now I’m off to have a shower as one daughter told me I don’t smell “very much.”
Featured image courtesy of jafsegal licensed via Creative Commons.
