Sometimes, You Have To Put The World On Mute. Heal. Take Care Of You And Your Family.

I haven't published a blog column in the past couple of days. I would love nothing more than to say it was because I was tackling my Non-Work Stuff Bodacious Dog Mom To-Do List. We made the decision last week that I'd be taking this week off to do just that. You can read about that here. Unfortunately, that's not the reason why...

Over the weekend, I felt a bit run down. A little congested. A tiny sore throat. I wrote it off as Fall allergies. However, by Sunday evening and into Monday, I knew it wasn't allergies. Long story short, it was a severe bout of strep throat, a sinus infection and an ear infection.

I was pissed. I had just gotten over the same thing about a month ago. 

With every ounce of my being, I was determined to get a few things done on my Non-Work Stuff Bodacious Dog Mom To-Do List.

That didn't exactly happen.

Today, I spent most of the day snuggling with the kids on the bed and sofa. They know Mama is sick. They've all been glued to my side.

Finally, this evening, Lisa put her foot down.

"I want you to cancel Girls Night on Saturday. I also don't want you to worry about your Dog Mom To-Do List. You can take next week off to do that. For the rest of the week, I want you to rest and get better."

"But...."

"No buts. I don't want to hear it."

Loud exhale on my end.

"What if things ease up and I'm feeling a little better on Saturday?"

"That would make me very happy because I don't like it when you're sick. It makes me sad and I feel helpless. If you're feeling a little better, we can take a scenic ride, check out some yard sales, and grab some apples and pumpkins at our favorite orchard. But, that's it."

Lisa paused for a moment.

"Being sick is out of your control. I know you had planned on getting a ton of stuff done this week and to prep for a really great Girls Night. Unfortunately, you got sick. I know you're stubborn. But, this time, I'm putting my foot down. You need to take it easy and rest."

She gave me the look.

About an hour later, I canceled Girls Night.

I gave up on getting anything done on my Non-Work Stuff Bodacious Dog Mom To-Do List. That would have to wait until next week.

I sat on the sofa. Snuggled up in a throw blanket. Moped. All of the kids joined me.

Deep down, I know Lisa is right.

For the most part, she puts up with my stubbornness.

We both come from a family of doers. Our parents and grandparents and great-grandparents didn't stop working or doing chores or getting done what needed to be done because of a little pain, a sore throat, or a cold.

They worked through it.

When they weren't able to, that meant it was really, really bad.

That wasn't often.

Lisa and I both embrace that same mentality.

We understand the stubbornness. The perseverance. The determination to get stuff done whether we're at our best or not.

But, we also have a deep understanding that when the other puts their foot down, as Lisa did today, that's it. We know not to argue or challenge the other. I've done the same with Lisa.

We simply relinquish that stubbornness.

And that's okay.

Completing everything on my Non-Work Stuff Bodacious Dog Mom To-Do List will happen next week.

We'll reschedule our special Girls Night for another Saturday over the next month or so.

What matters now is that I get better.

What matters now is that Lisa gets some sleep because she's been feeling rundown as of late.

These are the occasional moments when we need to pull back a bit. Take care of us and our family. Heal. Take it easy.

Put the rest of the world on mute.

Shhhhhhhh...