True Love Is Letting Mama Take NyQuil

Sickness struck everyone in my house recently. My husband and I were both feeling pretty awful, but still functioning as parents have to do. We were both worn down, exhausted and in desperate need of a good night’s sleep. We both got ready for bed thinking the same thing, I’ll take some NyQuil and hopefully not wake up until tomorrow. But we never take it at the same time just in case the kids wake up in the middle of the night.

So what were we to do?

My husband had to work the next day, he needed to be ‘on’ all day. I on the other hand was already off work to stay home with a sick kid and could easily have a chill day. So I told him to take it, and I’d be fine. “Nope”, he said. “You have to take it, you need the rest more than anyone. When you’re out of commission everything is off, and I’d rather you focus on getting healthy.” So I took the NyQuil and slept great – he, unfortunately, did not.

The next day it hit me how sweet his gesture really was – a sign of what marriage means these days. We are in the throws of raising young children and romantic gestures are not the norm. But this is: stepping up for your spouse, putting your needs second in order to support the other person or the entire family. 

This stage of marriage can be tough. As moms we are exhausted from being pulled in so many directions, constantly being needed and always being touched. It’s a challenge to keep your relationship at the forefront, and to be honest it doesn’t always happen. But it’s the little things we can do for our spouses that shows your marriage matters more than anything. Whether it’s letting them sleep in, take a night out with friends, or picking up their favorite treat or meal, each small gesture says “I love you, I recognize you, thank you for being an awesome husband and father.”

I learned early on after having kids is that not only do these small gestures matter, but you can’t keep score with them. Parenting is never equal, from the overnight feedings, to emptying the dishwasher, to a night out alone. And if you try to keep things equal, it might cause more resentment than anything. Instead we all know that marriage is a give and take, and sometimes you don’t realize how much so until you need to take NyQuil.

Kim Trinchet
Kim is a Wichita transplant who never planned to stay, but 15 years later she’s convinced Wichita is the perfect place to raise a family. She’s a wife to Jorge and a mama to Nico and Lucia. She moved here from the Chicago suburbs and works in the communications world. The rest of her time is focused on seeking out adventures with her little family. She also loves browsing grocery store aisles, reading cookbooks, iced coffee and wine. Kim’s trying to learn Spanish as well, her kiddos are bilingual and already speak better than she does!