For most illnesses, my wife would just "suck it up" and get her cute little behind out of bed, fully realizing that nothing would get done around house without her. But today, she was lingering beneath bed covers. That's how I knew she was really sick.

My wife is tougher than Randall "Tex" Cobb on his best day (and for those of you who don't know who Randall "Tex" Cobb is - shame on you!). Her finely developed sense of martyrdom compels her to force herself into activity, even in face of killer cold. Being caring husband that I am (and not wanting her germs spread through entire house), I suggested she stay in bed.

So, even though it was a Sunday, which is a very inconvenient day for her to be sick (because I usually park my large, ugly behind on my favorite chair and watch TV all day), I knew I would have to "suck it up" and do something feared by most men. Parenting.

For me, watching kids for an entire day is nothing short of exhausting. And kids don't seem to want to make it any easier for me. You'd think they'd just sit there and watch TV all day, like Daddy.

But no. They want me to feed them. I made my first blunder by asking what they wanted to eat. "Pancakes," shouted my daughter. "Buttery eggs," shouted my son. "How about cereal?" shouted Daddy. Unfortunately, since I'd already made mistake of asking, I was trapped.

Lucky for me, my wife has good sense to purchase microwave pancakes and egg beaters just for these kinds of emergencies. I was saved from forcing Cocoa Puffs down kids' throats, and after getting most of dishes into sink, I tried to sit down and watch TV with kids.

We have rules for everything from grammar and spelling to traffic and behavior. The Internet is becoming 'ruled' as well. You become a SPA'MMER if you solicit your wares without permission. You are YELLING if you use capital letters to send your message and you are rude and inconsiderate if you expose your email list to everyone in your mailbox when you forward a little ditty or two.

Now I am convinced that everyone also had rules at dinner table. Your Mom taught you etiquette! She told you to wash your hands before dinner. Didn't she tell you to keep your elbows off table and put your napkin on your lap and not to talk with food in your mouth? My Mom was not a socialite or Miss Manners by any means but these table RULES were taught early on. The first and most important one in my book was not to blow your nose at table. It sounds so disgusting; why would anyone do so anyway?