by Becky Vieira posted in Life

My husband and I have different ideas of what it means to be sick. We have a toddler, so we share germs and often fall ill at the same time. Unless I'm hospitalized, life continues as-is for me. But at the first sign of a runny nose he takes to bed. For days. Come to think of it, I guess things change for me, too. I end up with even more work when I'm sick.
I may have the flu, but my husband gets the "man flu." The increasingly popular term is used to describe men who exaggerate a mild illness. To them, the common cold is a reason to miss work and not be able to do anything. Also, if they're fathers, it means they can't help with kids. Or around the house. And sometimes they even can't help themselves. Many men revert to a childlike state when stricken with this illness. They look to their partners to help feed and care for them. Unless their mothers live in the area, in that case they?ll just summon mom.
Yes. It?s really that bad.

I?m not denying my husband gets sick. That lone sneeze can, and sometimes does, progress into a virus. Sometimes. No one wants to be ill, and when you add a job and kids it amplifies the chaos of the situation. Still, I?m prepared to make a bold statement: Women are better at dealing with sickness. And pain. Men turn a hangnail into an epidemic. I even have (non-scientific) proof.
I polled fellow moms and here are some of their stories:
Jillian Richards was inflicted with a double ear infection and pi...