While it’s not always talked about, illness can prove to be a real test of a relationship. When all of a sudden a partner goes from being an important support system to somebody who needs to be supported, the imbalance can be something that takes a lot of adjustment for everybody involved. While becoming sick isn’t anybody’s fault, there is often only so much that can be done for somebody who has a fleeting illness. Allowing them rest and fluids is often the best solution.

This kind of situation can become especially fraught between couples who have kids and as luck would have it, children have a habit of bringing all kinds of germs into the family home. It can be a recipe for disaster, or at the very least the kind of falling out it can feel difficult to recover from. It’s the last thing that most people want when they’re sick.