It’s no news to me that I react differently than most parents do in many situations. A prime example is a common one around this time of year–the fever. For many, discovering their child has a fever prompts a quick call to the doctor. Many may think I’m crazy, but when my children get a fever, I get excited!
One of my boys has had a fever two or three times during this cold season–and I couldn’t have been happier. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not happy my child is sick, but it sends me into a fit of giddy wonder when the fever kicks in and reminds me of how nature designed our bodies to take care of itself.
He usually hung out in my lap for most of the day–not feeling like doing much. And I just sat there with him, cheering on his fever–and here’s why.
Fevers are your friends! When our bodies are being attacked by a virus or bacteria, the body heats up in order to fight that bug! It’s creating an environment that the bug has difficulty surviving in. It’s a good thing!
What blows my mind is that people will actually give themselves or their children medicine to get rid of that natural defense as quickly as possible. They have no idea that they are basically telling the bug to come right on in! Make yourself comfortable for a long stay!
Even the American Academy of Pediatrics states, “Fever is not an illness, rather, it is a symptom of sickness and is usually a positive sign that the body is fighting infection.”
If that were true, you say, why does my pediatrician tell me to give my child fever-reducing drugs? The answer is fairly simple. Medicine is a business, and a business needs satisfied customers in order to thrive. When a worried parent brings their fever-ridden child to the doctor, the parent doesn’t want the doctor to look at them and say “Just do nothing.” They are paying this guy for a solution. A change. Make them better. So the doctor gets rid of the fever, and mommy and daddy feel like they got their money’s worth. Unfortunately for them, they are doing their child more harm than good.
You can read on the internet about the benefits of fever, so I won’t get technical here. I just want to encourage you–for your children or for yourself–next time a fever flares, let it do its job! It’s a sign that something amazing is happening.
And no, my little boy never did get sick. After 4 or 5 hours of feverish downtime, he was good as new! It’s so wonderful to see the amazing human body at work.
