I took a mom sick day last month. One that was three weeks overdue, lessons learned, which is the reason for this post.

So I got a stupid cold. One of those colds more annoying than debilitating. Back in the day I probably would have called in sick to work, taken a day to rest and kicked it pretty quickly.

But since becoming a mom, unless I was down and out with the stomach flu, I would take a Sudafed and do what I had to do to make it through the day.

I used to joke, “there are no sick days when you are a mom!”

So fueled by Sudafed I went on with life with a three and six year old.  Drop offs, pick ups, classes, play dates, events, you moms know the drill.  It just doesn’t stop.  So even though I was feeling crappy I just forced myself to keep going.  I kept telling myself I HAD to be better the next day.

Fast forward 22 days later. I was STILL sick and hit the wall one afternoon when I broke down and cried with exhaustion. I felt horrendous and I was getting worse, not better.

I realized I needed antibiotics. I also realized I needed to rest and get BETTER the next day.

So I decided to call in sick.

I cancelled appointments, called in favors to friends to help with drop off and pick up, called the neighbor girl to come over for a couple hours in the afternoon to play with my girls, and when my girlfriend asked if she could take my girls from 5 – 730pm and have them returned fed and in jammies ready for bed, I thought I might cry with gratitude. People went above and beyond to help me. My heart felt so full.

I laid in bed for the entire day and within 24 hours, thanks to rest and antibiotics, I finally got better and felt like myself again.

What I learned is that I am human. I get sick, and if my body is sick, I need to listen to it and rest at the beginning to allow myself to get better.

I also learned that friends are more than willing to help.  I wrote them all an email and told them how much I appreciated them and how they could call me and I will help them anytime.

People want to help. I want to help others. Don’t you? We just have to be willing to ask for it. 

So, moms, I give you permission to take a sick day if you need it. We deserve it and owe it to ourselves, don’t you think?

Have you ever done this?