Love in the Time of Swine Flu

How to help her weather the flu season and still feel loved

It's cold and flu season, and nothing puts a damper on romance like sniffling, sneezing, sore throats, and 104 degree fevers (though that could make for some "hot" sex).

When guys get sick, it's not really a big deal for them to feel un-loved. We're giant babies when we're sick, and we just want to get well. Our girlfriends could walk in wearing lingerie that would make Hugh Hefner blush, and we wouldn't notice or care because WE'RE SICK.

However, when a woman gets sick it's of the utmost importance that her man continue showing her love. Though, this can be quite difficult if a guy does not want to contract whatever ailment is plaguing the woman he adores. Just because a guy can't kiss or hug his favorite gal does not mean he can't find ways to remind her that she is still the love of his life.

Nurse-in-chief
First and foremost, he needs to act as head nurse of sorts. For a few days, or however long she is down, the boyfriend/husband should wait on her hand and foot (much like she would do for him in his time of need.) If she needs a Kleenex, get it for her. Better yet, give her the whole box with a big red bow on it. If she needs a glass of juice, grab some oranges and start squeezing, and add a paper umbrella for effect. If she doses off during her favorite TV show, hit the DVR record button and save it for her. It's the little things that show you care.

Put it in writing
Leave her cards or flowers to find when she wakes up the next day. One of the best things to fight off a cold or flu is to feel better emotionally. Finding a Hallmark card sitting on the nightstand for no reason other than to say “I love you” would be a fantastic morale booster for any woman suffering a germ invasion.

For the creatively brave, take a shot at penning a poem. You don't have to be Tennyson or Keats to impress her; anything better than a limerick will make her swoon inside even if she's snickering on the outside. And if you can actually connect a few rhymes with iambic pentameter, she may just feel well-enough long enough to make you her Longfellow for the night.

Words of love
A woman also needs to be reminded that she is still beautiful and sexy to a guy even when she is feeling the least attractive she possibly can; laying in bed, wearing flannel pajamas, no make up, a red nose, and her hair running out of control. Something sweet a guy can do is remind her that she is beautiful – sick or not. Once or twice a day, while handing her something she needs, a guy should whisper to his special lady that he still thinks she is the most beautiful woman on Earth. She will have trouble believing it, and might even scoff, but I assure any guy reading this that it will make her feel better – if just for a little while. But she will LOVE you for it a lot longer.

Perhaps the best way to remind her that she is loved, is to tell her so with your words. As if a guy doing everything listed above would not be enough, to end every night with the words “I love you, hope you feel better soon, sweetheart” is a guaranteed home run sure to make any woman smile…or at least try to smile.

All of these things might make her feel loved while she is sick, but it might also be nice to continue to do a few of them even after she is well just so she can be reminded of how much she is loved when she's not a sniffling, sneezing, flu-ish mess.