Thursday, November 11, 2010

Total Pushover

A slight cold has been stalking our household.  Laura started up with a cough last night, and it sounded kind of harsh, but I thought there was also some hamming it up involved.  As though she were looking for a Victorian fainting couch to throw herself onto.  After a while, all the coughing really did seem to irritate her throat and increase the coughing. You know how it goes.  I made her drink lots of liquids and then gave her some cough suppressant at bedtime.

This morning at 6:30 she appeared in the gloom at my bedside.  "Mom, I'm still coughing and my throat is sore."

"Okay," I said.  "You can stay home today. Go back to bed."

If you guys have anything to ask me and you think I might say no, 6:30 is a good time to ask for it.  I will agree to whatever if it will make your face stop making noise.

Then 8:00 rolled around and Hank climbed into my bed.  He said, "Mom, my cheek hurts," and then dozed off again.  I thought about that and then dozed off again too.

By 9:00 we were working on getting Hank ready for preschool.  Laura had taken her own temperature, reported it to be normal, and was in her room dressing an American Girl doll.  I should have made her get ready for school right then.  But I was dealing with Hank, and he was putting up some resistance, saying he didn't want to go to school, and complaining of his cheek pain.  I couldn't see anything wrong with his cheek, inside or out.  I took it to be a fictional complaint manufactured in response to the awareness that his sister was staying home.

I got him fed, dressed, and actually in the car, and he was still a little whiny.  Usually by that point in the day, he has realized the inevitability of school and has gotten with the program.  But he continued to droop.

Then at our first red light, he said that his ear hurt.  It dawned on me: "cheek pain" could equal ear pain and/or sinus pain.  Hmm.

Then, his clincher.  He said, "Can I sit in your lap?"  He has never asked that in the car.  I said, "Baby, I'm driving."

He said, "But I'll be careful."

"That won't work, sweetie."

He said, "But I just NEED SOME MAMA TIME!" and burst into tears.

Okay, one second and one illegal U-turn later and we were on our way back home.  No problem.  It is not in me to refuse a cri de coeur like that.

After the car was pointed the other way, Hank perked up something considerable.  He continues to seem draggy, but says his ear doesn't hurt.  I will still probably take him to the doctor tomorrow.

Laura has made amazing strides back towards wellness this afternoon.  I guess she is having a mental health day, really. Which is fine with me, she never tries to get out of school.  She's more conscientious than I am.

If you guys have anything to ask me and you think I might say no, ask to sit in my lap.  While I'm driving.

Wishing you health,
xo
b

16 comments:

Keely said...

So if you're driving before 6:30 and one asks to sit in your lap, you're pretty much ready to sign over the house? Good to know.

Some days just go like that. I hope everybody is feeling better soon :)

Shannon said...

Your kids still have to go to school on Veteran's Day? That sucks! Glad you got a built in holiday even if the school district doesn't recognize it. Hope the rest of you stay healthy!

Unknown said...

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Michele R said...

If the doc can’t see him I can vouch for that Minute Clinic. They treated me wonderfully the other day and of course I used Publix for the Rx for the free antibiotics (we go there to diagnose ear stuff and strep).
Hope they feel better tomorrow!!
P.S. Not to sound Munchhausen but I would totally welcome an earache to give Mama Time)

Maggie May said...

what a cutie your little guy is!

Amy said...

Oh man, "I need some Mama time!" woulda totally done me in too. Bless him!

I always remember how Mom--a teacher herself!--would offer us mental health days from time to time. It does a body good.

Hope everyone's on the mend!

Rebekah said...

You are such a good parent! Sick days are a must, especially when one suffers from mild malaise possibly induced by embarassing P&G funded videos and various viruses that are beginning to crawl through the classroom. Today Elizabeth said people in her class were starting to leave (meaning - stay home sick) and that one day soon only the teacher would be there alone.

Anonymous said...

I would have melted at Mama Time too. I am such a sucker for my kids.

Meg said...

It's funny, I was just thinking I needed to borrow some money from someone. I'll come sit on your lap at 6:30am. You'll say yes just to get my fat arse off your lap!

Michele said...

Sometimes mama needs some baby time. They grow up too fast so get it while you can.

Kelly said...

Hank is so precious!! Hope everyone is on the mend xoxox

Veronica said...

I can totally remember sitting at a bookshop cafe with my dad, drinking hot chocolate and reading books on a "mental health day" -- probably in the second or third grade. I can picture the book, the mug of hot chocolate, the dusting of chocolate on the whipped cream, and the fun of hanging out and laughing with my dad on a "school day." Now, this is not to say that we don't learn very important things in the third grade on the many days we go to school. BUT isn't it interesting what we remember in the long run? :)

Jenni said...

We have some kind of horrible creeping crud around here. I'm terribly congested and I can't smell a thing and my head is killing me. Okay, the head might have been the four glasses of wine and martini I had last night, but I am sick for reals.

Anonymous said...

it's ok to be a pushover when it comes to all the right reasons, right?

Lawyer Mom said...

I've done the same thing, many times. And I've never once regretted it.

The school, of course, wants to know the reason for the absence. "Family business" has satisfied them . . . so far.

Zion said...

Oh dear, that is the sweetest thing ever. I would have reacted the same way if my son did that!