My youngest was sick last week. He had a fever, runny nose and a cough so violent that it caused more than a couple of meal returns. I felt bad for the little guy. Still, nursing a sick child back to health can be rewarding.

First of all, there’s the quiet. Everyone in my house is loud and the little one is no exception. The difference between him and everyone else is the ear piercing octaves his screeching can reach. When he’s not feeling well, my ears get a break as he tends to whisper as if we’re snipers trying to not blow our cover. It’s so peaceful.

When my kids are sick, they are super cuddly. They don’t feel good and just want to be close to their parents. We get lots of hugs, rocking and even those naps where they fall asleep on your chest and your not allowed to move.

Speaking of naps, there’s also the possibility of extra naps. Pretty much every parent understands just how awesome nap time can be. Some of us use this opportunity to get something done, mentally prepare for the second half of the day or even take a nap of our very own. An extra nap is like a gift from God.

A sick day is a guilt free lazy day. I’m not going to lie. There are some days where the best of intentions wind up being a day inside doing absolutely nothing. A sick day is a free pass to sit around doing what George Constanza would do if society would allow.

Probably the best part of spending time with a sick kid is just feeling needed. Seeing your kids grow up and become more independent is a huge part of being a parent. You should feel good every time your child is able to do something without your help. Still, it’s nice to take a few steps back for a day or two and do things for the kids that they can do for themselves. When they’re sick, you can do that with out worrying that your attentiveness is going to become an expected everyday occurrence.

I’m  glad the little guy feels better and is back to running around like always with an energy that makes me envious and irritated. It was nice however, to get in some extra hugs and watch some cartoons together.