In Defense of My Crybaby Husband

1

(Disclaimer: I talked to my husband before I wrote this post and he okayed it.)

Men are crybabies when they’re sick, right? A cold or a little upset stomach takes them out of the game.

Mommas? Not so much.

So congested you feel like you’re underwater? Still going to work.

Rumble in your tum every couple hours? Running the vacuum in between visits to the bathroom.

Pounding headache? Just turn the lights down low while you make dinner.

Recently, my husband got sick and was a crybaby.

He’d gotten a mild stomach bug. He threw up once and then just had some bathroom trouble for a few days… A. Few. Days. One night he came downstairs and was talking about how he still didn’t feel great, and I said something like, “I’m going to need you to stop being sick, soon.”

I was so frustrated. He wasn’t dying, he just had to poo. Why was he still complaining about it? I have had period cramps so bad that I’ve puked. So bad that once I’ve gotten into a comfortable position, I won’t move for fear the cramps will return. I’ve had a child cut out of me and was on my feet 12 hours later, holding a pillow against my stomach so I could cough since I also had a cold and my doctor was worried about pneumonia.

I… was being a jerk.

It’s all about perspective. I like to think that I am a super strong Wonder Woman when it comes to dealing with pain and sickness. But I haven’t experienced half of what some of you momma’s have gone through.

My recovery after a c-section feels super-human to me, but that’s the only surgery I’ve ever had. If I were to complain about my c-section pain after my first child to a mom that had a c-section and had to take care of an infant and a toddler, she might feel the same frustration with me that I often feel with my husband.

It’s worth it to be more empathetic.

We probably can handle more pain and sickness than them. However, us experiencing more pain than them doesn’t make their pain any less. Have you ever told someone how tired you are because you only got X hours of sleep, only for them to one up you by saying the got even less? You’re still pretty damn tired!

We love these crybabies. Let’s show them that love so that they get better (sooner than later!).

Previous article3 Things I’ve Learned While Mommin’ With Friends
Next articleEarly Morning Chaos
Carrie Chambers
I’m the first-time momma of an awesome little girl. I grew up in Beavercreek, spent a good chunk of time living in Dayton, and currently live in Miamisburg with my husband, daughter, two cats and a dog. I love getting a good deal and “MacGuyvering” meals out of what I find in the kitchen. I’ve worked in higher education for 10+ years in various capacities, most of that at Miami University. I’m passionate about women’s leadership and helped establishe a women’s mentoring program at Miami (Miami RED Women). Becoming a mom has been amazing because it’s made me feel like there is little I can’t do since I have a little human counting on me (and because they cut that little human out of me and I was on my feet 12 hours later taking care of her!). I like to say that everything will be alright because that’s the only option. Thanks for stopping by!

1 COMMENT

  1. I loved this. Empathy is huge for me and it’s something I find I have to remind myself of time and time again with my husband’s aches, pains and illnesses. Lately I’ve been feeling very drained and overloaded due to being 37 weeks pregnant, having my 2 1/2 year old daughter and adding my 6 year old stepdaughter on the weekends. I’m pooped and my ankles swell to enormous sizes and my pelvis feels like it’s splitting and he’ll walk up and complain of back pain and lay down. My first thoughts go to, “but I’m the pregnant one. Can I just have this. Can you just not complain?”, but then I remember that he’s always had a lot of trouble with his back over the years and it’s an ongoing issue for him. It’s hard, but like you said, we love those crybabies. We have to show them.

Comments are closed.