When Your Wife Doesn't Feel Well

I always think that if a man can't figure out how a woman wants to be treated, just look at how she treats her kids. However we mothers treat our children (if we're mentally normal and all) is bound to be our idea of what pure love is. How do we greet them? How do we talk to them? Comfort them? Hold them? Feed them. Whatever.

With that in mind, let me just say that when I am sick I would like the following:

I would like you to look at me with tender concern. (Fake it if necessary.)See if I have a fever.

I would like you to tell me to lie down and rest. Cover me up with a blanket. Ask me if I want anything to eat or drink. Ask me if I have taken any medicine and if I have not bothered, insist that I am going to take some and right now. Then bring it to me.

Touch me. I understand that you don't want my cooties. But my body aches, and you are better than Tylenol. I promise not to give you my germs if you just let me put my head in your lap, or if you hold me for a few minutes or rub my back. Maybe a kiss on top of my head would be nice.

If you fussed over me in this manner for about five good minutes, I would feel all warm and fuzzy and would then insist that you go do whatever you want to do. Which is what you do anyway, only I do not feel warm and fuzzy.

If you wait until I have a heart attack or stroke to hover by my bed, I'm not going to know it. Take care of me when I'm just lightly-to-moderately sick, and I will love you for it.