What Time Is It?
For the longest time, it was considered hilarious to answer "It's time to get ill..." whenever anyone asked for the time.
Okay, it is still pretty funny. And actually, considering that we are midway through October and this is the first time this school year that I've had a child do the bleh-uh-uh-uh-hork surprise vomiting onto my shirt, I could revise the joke to "It's about time we got ill. Duh."
And here's the sad part: I'm sort-of excited about it.
When I woke the kids up this morning, and my three-and-a-half year old was lethargic and complaining that her tummy hurt, I parked her in front of the TV and got the other two kids ready to leave. When we drove to school, and she didn't put up a fight about her rights to sit in the big girl seat, her siblings breathing on her, control of the radio, her need for a water bottle, anything... I suspected that this was going to be a good day.
When we got home from dropping the kids off, she whined for about 30 seconds and then puked down the front of my shirt. I checked her temperature (normal) and put her on the couch, where she has been zonked out, watching movies ever since.
WAHOO!
You see how evil I have become? I am so grateful for the break from her normal, whirling dervish behavior that I'm totally okay with having to clean vomit out of my shoe. This is the first day in two weeks where I haven't been rocking back and forth, repeating "use your big girl words, my ears don't hear whining" over and over. I haven't had to strong-arm anyone into anything. I might actually get some work done today.
I am sorry that she feels yucky, but maybe this is the universe's way of telling her to knock off the ding-dang whining. Or perhaps, the parenting gods decided that I needed a gimme, lest I start shouting oaths in their general direction.
I'm a bad mother. Go on, send me the award.
Comments
Poor little one. Hope she feels better tonight. But YEAH for Mommy! A break!
Posted by: Grace | October 19, 2006 10:31 AM
Hey, I thought I was the ONLY mom who actually kind of liked sick days...my middle one woke up sick and there is NOTHING better than him on the couch all day, it keeps me from screaming "STOP IT, MT!" at every noise (It's always him making the moise and driving the other kids crazy, poor little guy)......
Posted by: Turtlemama | October 19, 2006 11:04 AM
You are too funny!! No thank you! In our house, whenever my children are sick...they get even whiiinier SO no thank you!
Posted by: Waya | October 19, 2006 11:54 AM
Don't sell yourself short.
Time to get ill is still hilarious.
Posted by: Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah | October 19, 2006 12:03 PM
Hilarious! Not that she's sick, that's not good, but the whole bad mother thing I can relate to. Only with me it's 'stop waving that hand at me and yelling!! USE YOUR BIG BOY WORDS!!!''. Maybe my yelling negates the usefulness of telling him not to yell, but what the hey...I'm the Mum.
Posted by: Eva | October 19, 2006 1:25 PM
I love it when Alex gets sick. It means we can go a whole day without anything getting broken!
Posted by: Amanda | October 19, 2006 2:34 PM
No, bad mom is when you put the thermometer into their mouths, and while waiting for it to equilibrate, silently pray "Please be high enough so that I can give paracetamol and get some sleep. Please be high enough so that I can give paracetamol and get some sleep. Please be high enough so that I can give paracetamol and get some sleep..."
But thanks for making me feel a little bit better about liking sick days...
Posted by: Neodecanoic | October 19, 2006 3:36 PM
Yea, and I feel guilty because when they're home sick from school I'm quietly praying that they're sick enough to be out of commission for the day. Nothing worse than having them JUST sick enough to stay home but not sick enough to be quiet and still.
Posted by: Michelle | October 19, 2006 4:45 PM
Too funny - and I know what you mean! Sorry that she's sick, but when you know she'll feel better soon it's hard not to enjoy the silence and lack of will to fight.
Posted by: Christina | October 19, 2006 5:04 PM
I am hereby adopting your "sunny sickness"disposition, and hoping I can be excited about my own self feeling less than "well." : ) I'm on my way to plop myself down to watch movies as I type. Or you know, right after. ; )
Posted by: kerrianne | October 19, 2006 6:52 PM
I totally feel your "pain." What happens when the mama gets it? Then you have a rousing chorus of "mommy's not allowed to be sick, suck it up." Then Dad gets it and we hear "everybody whine, dad doesn't feel good, bring him some soup." Enjoy your momentary quiet.
Posted by: Christy | October 20, 2006 4:35 AM
I know exactly how you feel. The other day a friend told me she was going into the hospital and I was actually jealous. All that peace and quiet, and ability to do the sodoku without being interrupted 85 gazillion times. I'm sick.
Posted by: Sheryl | October 20, 2006 6:42 AM
What's a little vomit in exchange for a day of peace?
And they're so sweet when they're sick.
Seriously hilarious!!
Posted by: mammaloves | October 20, 2006 12:38 PM
Did you know that kiwi-fruit contains 35 vitamins?
Posted by: Astrid | October 21, 2006 11:53 AM
Oh I'm soo with you on this one! The only time my little one is calm, cuddly and quiet is when he is sick.
Posted by: barbex | October 24, 2006 2:42 AM