In the middle of the night, Timothy (age 6) came in to my room crying because he felt sick. He couldn't tell me where he felt bad or how he felt sick, but he was clearly unhappy. We gave him some Motrin for his fever and spent quite a while after that dealing with his groaning and crying until he fell back asleep. At about 3:00AM, I called in sick, and I rushed in to school at 6:00AM to get everything ready for the sub I so unexpectedly needed.
I took Timothy to a doctor this morning and found out that he has an ear infection, strep throat, and a virus. After waiting a long time to get his antibiotics, I finally brought him back home and got him settled on the couch with some yogurt and "kid TV" (a term my kids use to differentiate shows they like from shows my husband or I prefer to watch). For the moment, both boys are settled and happy. Timothy isn't in pain right now, and Cameron hasn't yet gotten sick (the boys' doctor says he probably will in the next day or two). It's 1:00PM now, and I'm tired.
I recall being home sick from school when I was a kid, and it seemed like a relaxing experience. I would sit on the couch with my bowl of soup and watch television. I would read books or do puzzles. I didn't have any type of technology that is so readily available today: no laptop, no iPad, no iPod. But, since I'd never had those things, I didn't know to miss them. Those lazy sick days were great. Being home with a sick kid is a very different experience. It's not nearly as relaxing as my childhood sick days. It helps me really appreciate all my mom went through on her "days off" with my sisters and me when we were ill.
Timothy, Cameron, and I just finished watching an episode of the Berenstain Bears, and the lesson that Mama Bear shared was very profound: "Don't waste today wishing it was yesterday. Enjoy all that today has to offer." I look back fondly at my childhood, including my sick days, but I love the hectic and tiring adult life that I currently live. I have a job I enjoy, a husband I adore, and two perfect little people to spend my days with. Life with them is far better than I ever imagined it would be. Even when they're sick.
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