Single Parent Fears... Sickness

So, as I've said before, I'm a single dad.  [Missed that? Learn more about me by clicking the "Who-What" tag at the bottom of this post].  Before my wife died, I had respect for single parents - I knew their road had to be harder - but I didn't really understand.  This post is about a single parent issue, because that's what I am.  Maybe it will help other single parents feel less alone, and maybe it will help parents in traditional couples to have better understanding of their single parent friends.  Or, maybe it will simply be a waste of several thousand 1's and 0's wherever it's stored.  Who knows.  Anyway...

One of the things that I have come to fear is sickness.  When anyone in the house gets sick, it completely disrupts our routine.  And yes, we a very much a house wedded to our routines.  A week or two ago we had the worst - all 3 of us sick together.  Talk about disruption in routine.  "But sickness isn't that bad," you think, "Even parents in couples have to deal with that."  Let me try to explain:

When my wife was alive, when a child was sick, one of us would take a sick day and stay home.  In my current job, I don't really have sick days, so if someone gets sick I either have to cancel work events or take a sick child with me.  In itself, this is difficult.

But this week, sickness would have been even more of an issue.  [Go ahead, ask me why]  I'm glad you asked.  Because I have a daddy-daughter date night scheduled with Rachel this week.  A good friend is coming over to help her get all "dolled up" for the evening.  She's been looking forward to it all year.  And if Zoe gets sick, then I have to find someone who will take care of a sick little girl.  And the date night goes from about 6-11p, so that's a long time.  And on top of that, I would be worried about Zoe all night.  Not exactly what Rachel would want from me.

Blessing from heaven, she has no temp.  I think the cough is a leftover from things last week, and expect it to not be any issue come Friday.  But maybe now you have some new understanding about why single parents fear sickness.  Or not.

Jesus, please help Zoe's cough go away, and keep her healthy.  I ask a special blessing on this Friday night for the time Rachel and I will spend together.  Thank you in advance.  Amen.