unexpected perils of being a stay at home mom

Often people look upon my "job" as one they would not chose. Even more often when they spend time around my crew they repeat this fact more times than I can count. Yet many a day I say it fits for me, for us. But then every once in awhile something pops up which makes me ponder how being home has changed my perspective. Today #2 enlightened me on one such idea....sick days.
My oldest daughter talented in many ways hasn't included faking an illness. It would be far reaching to out and out say she snowed me. What might be more realistic is the stomachache while real beyond belief worked itself aided by a double dose of tummy medicine (Shaklee brand probiotics which work wonders!). All of that took place shortly after the siblings were off to school and she was securely home:) 
Yep, the day swiftly went from sicky to sidekick for #4. While I was thankful for the attention she took away from me offering a VERY productive day in return I felt guilty that she missed valuable educational time Will she be at a loss from it, no. But what lesson am I reinforcing in this situations? It is not the first, few for sure but certainly not the first. 
Then the next question is how would this have played out if I had to work? I mean many people are not as lucky as myself to just keep a kid home. I ask these questions as if I do not know what the answer is..I would have sent her today. She didn't ask to stay home, just didn't eat and looked miserable. Not going to the bathroom in a few days will do that to you. Life gets so tough the older you get huh? I guess this is just another instance in God preparing me for the road ahead, the search for a teaching job and transitioning my families life style. Gone will be the days of staying home for a rest day and in are the fever and throwing up only sick days.
How did your parents handle you?

Comments

  1. Katie&GregFebruary 16, 2011 at 8:11 AM

    My mom never let me stay home unless I had a fever. It was tricky trying to heat up a thermometer. I bet its even harder for kids now that they have those ear ones! :)

    Just think of it as a day where you got to catch up! :)

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  2. Book WhispererFebruary 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM

    we didn't miss school unless the nurse sent us home. I remember very vividly one time in second grade..the little boy that sat next to me came to school sick after being on safari with his parents in Africa. He came back to the U.S. with Swine flue..yeah I caught that crap and I was literally too sick to move. My mom was stuck at work and couldn't come get me so she had my older sister walk to the elementary school sign me out and walk me home. All I remember of that is that I was delirious with fever and I woke up in a hospital..it was very disorienting to say the least. That was the only excuse to miss school except the last day..my mom was really big on letting us miss the last day of school :D
    My DH and I are blessed in that a lot of times when the kids are sick he's able to re-arrange his work schedule so he can stay home with them and on the few occasions he isn't I can take personal days or family medical leave to stay home with them.

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