When I got sick at the worst time: a mom’s honest holiday breakdown
TLDR:
Getting sick right before a holiday feels awful, but it isn’t because you’re not handling things well. It’s just that you’ve been carrying so much that slowing down shines a light on it. If being sick makes you feel behind or guilty, that’s not failure...that’s a tired, overloaded mom doing her best.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Well… this is not how I pictured Thanksgiving week.
I’ll be honest with you:
I got sick this week. Right before Thanksgiving.
Which… rude.
And if you’ve ever been taken out by a cold or flu right before a holiday, you know that the hardest part isn’t always the symptoms.
It’s the mental load that takes over immediately.
The second you feel sick, your brain leaps into planning, predicting, managing, worrying, and catastrophizing...even if your body is saying, “Please… just lie down.”
It sounds like:
“Now I’m behind.”
“I can’t slow down right now.”
“I still need to go to the store.”
“We have events. We have plans. We have people expecting things.”
“This could not be worse timing.”
And suddenly, you’re not just sick.
You’re stressed, anxious, guilty, and overwhelmed.
Why Holidays Make Getting Sick Feel Ten Times Worse
Most moms don’t realize this, but when you’re the default organizer, the emotional anchor, the memory-keeper, the activity-planner, and the person who makes things “feel special,” any disruption to your capacity feels huge.
Holidays come with:
invisible labor
emotional pressure
expectations
family dynamics
kids home from school
extra tasks no one else sees
So when your body finally says “stop,” your brain says,
“Nope. Try again.”
Not because you’re a perfectionist.
Not because you expect too much of yourself.
But because holidays demand more from moms than anyone talks about.
And instead of resting, your mind starts sprinting.
The Spiral Isn’t About the Cold, It’s About the Load
This is something I want every mom to hear clearly:
If getting sick makes you feel overwhelmed, that doesn’t mean you’re weak.
It means you have too much on your shoulders.
Illness doesn’t create chaos.
It reveals the chaos you’ve been managing quietly in the background.
When you’re sick:
There’s no backup system
The schedule doesn’t pause
The household keeps moving
Kids still need things
Responsibilities pile up
The emotional pressure increases
The guilt gets louder
Your body’s asking for rest.
But your life is insisting you keep going.
And your nervous system is stuck in the middle.
Of course it feels awful. It feels like “the worst timing.” And your brain spirals.
A Few Gentle Truths If You’re Sick Today (Holiday or Not)
1. You’re allowed to not be the holiday hero.
You don’t have to run the whole show.
Not today. Not this week. Not while you’re sick.
2. Rest is not ruining anything.
You’re not letting your family down by taking care of yourself.
You’re actually modeling something healthy.
3. The holiday magic does not disappear because you’re on the couch.
Kids don’t need a perfect holiday.
Kids need a regulated parent.
4. You’re not behind...you’re recovering.
Your body needed to stop.
That’s not failure; that’s honesty.
5. You deserve help, support, and care...especially when the timing is terrible.
Sometimes “bad timing” is actually your body saying,
“I can’t go at this pace anymore.”
If This Week Felt Harder Than It Should Have
If getting sick sent you into a spiral of guilt, worry, or resentment, it’s okay to consider that maybe the load you’re carrying is too much for one person.
So many moms who reach out to me say something like:
“Every time I slow down, I feel like I’m drowning.”
If that’s your experience, especially around holidays, therapy can help you build a life where rest doesn’t feel like danger and holidays don’t feel like pressure tests.
Whether you're looking for a therapist in Ohio, therapy for mothers, EMDR therapy in Columbus Ohio, or therapy intensives in Ohio, I’d love to support you.
When You’re Ready, I’m Here
Today might not look how you planned.
And that’s okay.
You’re still allowed joy.
You’re still allowed rest.
You’re still allowed to take up space even when you’re sick.
Whenever you’re ready to get support that helps you feel more grounded and less overloaded , especially during these high-demand seasons, you can schedule a consultation below.
And truly… I hope this Thanksgiving gives you a little room to breathe, even if it’s happening from under a blanket.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
✨ Not sure if you’re burned out or just tired?
Take my quick Burnout Quiz for Moms to find out where you are on the burnout spectrum and what kind of support might help you feel more grounded again.
It only takes a few minutes and it’s a gentle first step toward feeling lighter and more like yourself.
👉Click here
