Jill says:
Last weekend on the Thursday before Hearts at Home, Mark started feeling ill. He made it through half of the Friday conference and then headed home sick. He didn’t feel back to normal until Monday morning.

This weekend it was my turn. My queasiness hit it’s peak Sunday afternoon.

Mark says:
Within the span of one week we’re once again reminded of our differences. When I’m sick, I want to be left alone. When Jill is sick, she wants to be tended to.

We are SO DIFFERENT!

Jill says:
The worst thing a married couple can do is assume the other person wants what you would want in a certain situation. Instead of imposing our likes and dislikes on our spouse, we have to seek to understand their likes and dislikes when they are feeling under the weather.

Mark says:
A great time to talk about this is when you’re both healthy.  There’s nothing worse than having unmet expectations when you’re already not feeling well!

Jill says:
If you don’t already know the answers to these questions, take some time to get to know one another’s preferences:

• When you are sick, do you want me to anticipate your needs like getting medication, making meals, etc?
• When you don’t feel well, do you want to be left alone and trust that if you need something, you’ll let me know?
• Do you want me to rub your feet, rub your back, or comfort you in any way, when you’re not feeling well?
• Do you want me to just take care of myself and let you take care of yourself, when you’re under the weather?

What about you? What do you prefer when you’re sick? What about your spouse?