Sick days

Yesterday both of my kids were home sick with different illnesses. As the day went on, I realized I was in the same boat. I try to make sick days 'not fun'. Is that mean? We girls caught up on American Idol and Olympic skating pairs. The boy in the house had enough. We paused the 'skating on demand' (how cool is Olympics on demand?) and ventured on to something for him. For the life of me, I cannot remember what we did then.

Food was not high on the agenda, she had a stomach thing and he was not quite sure what was wrong - but was not looking to each much. Dinner was pancakes. While he took a nap, she read a book. Is it okay that I let her think it was only 40 minutes - when she read for a good hour? They report their reading in logs that go to school each week. I did not want her to think that she read too much. I need her to read more often.

At least they were content to go to sleep fairly early. Although the nap took its toll on him. They were both giddy on all of the Gatorade I gave them (not really that much) during the day. Finally asleep.

This morning it seemed neither would make it to school. He was in bed with me and she was still sleeping. Out of nowhere, she sprang up and announced she was going to school. We got it all happening and got dressed, ate and took her to school. Only 10 minutes late. Not bad.

So it was boy and mom today. He is so cuddly, especially when he is sick. We watched a couple of movies (okay, I slept through a lot of that) and he was hungry all day long. Finding snacks for a boy whose tummy is hurting is difficult.

I was feeling so ill too. My head was pounding. There were times that I could not move. We got drugs.

And then there was Lego. Making Star Wars vehicles on the family room floor is right up there on the list of best things to do. I have always loved Lego. I still have the miniscule amount of Lego I owned when I was a child. It is cool to know my kids play with it now. That Lego reminds me of the many Saturday nights I spent playing with Lego when I was a kid. Those were the days when we stayed home and played with a neighbour (we were pretty young). You cannot do that today.

I slept for a while this afternoon when their dad was home.

Having my kids home with me on sick days gives me the chance to reflect on my role as a mother. My kids look to me to be their nurse, friend, and confidant and to keep them loved through it all. It is pretty wonderful.