Mariah had been feeling less than healthy lately, causing her to admit herself to the hospital so that she could have a check-up.

But in her absence, her children decided to rent out her house as an Airbnb, ready to pocket the money for themselves. When Mariah found out, she decided to teach her children a lesson. “Mariah,” my friend Liz said on the phone, “why on earth is your house listed as an Airbnb?” “What?” I asked, completely confused.

“What are you talking about?” “Denise was looking for a house to rent for the weekend because it’s her bachelorette weekend, and she came across your house. Aren’t you still in the hospital?” she asked. “Liz, I truly have no idea what you’re talking about,

I said, looking at the IV drip away into my bloodstream. “Send me the link to the site Denise saw.”This is how I taught my children a valuable lesson:Recently, my blood pressure had been all over the place, causing me to faint at odd moments. “Mom,” my son, Liam, said, “you need to get it checked out.

There’s no point in going to the pharmacy and getting medication over the counter just because you think it’s going to help. You need to get everything assessed properly.”“And you need to start eating better,” Leah, my daughter, said. “Having oats in the morning, toast during the day, and soup at night isn’t a balanced diet. You’re playing with your health.

It’s time to take things seriously.”Leah moved around my kitchen, slicing vegetables to make a salad to go along with the grilled chicken she had been marinating. “And what about your constant headaches? It’s time to get everything checked out. You should go into the hospital and do a full check-up,” Liam said.

But I feel fine, other than the headaches and dizziness; I’m good!” I retorted. Both my kids snorted and rolled their eyes at me. “Do it, Mom,” Leah said, pointing her finger at me. I had to agree with them. I had been downplaying my health lately. I still walked every second day and did as much yoga as my body would allow during the week. But still

there was a nagging feeling that something could be wrong. “Just go to silence that feeling,” Liz said when we met for smoothies after our yoga class one day. “But what if we find something?” I asked, suddenly nervous to be speaking my thoughts out loud. “Then, we’ll deal with it together. I know that Paul isn’t here anymore, but I’m here,” Liz said.