Thursday, December 20, 2012

It's Just the Flu

Cat nap on the school run.
Photo by Me. All Rights Reserved.
The flu hit us this week. It's the first time we've all had it. The first year we didn't get vaccinated, with the move it was overlooked. First came, Little Rose, who was sick all weekend and has missed school all week with her typical double dose of illnesses: UTI and the flu. I didn't realize it was the flu until The Boy woke up a feverish mess Monday morning.

I miss school buses at these times. My kids have never ridden one to school, but it sure would be nice. I dragged two sick kids to school to drop off one. Nature Girl avoided getting sick until Wednesday. I was relieved she managed to get through her school play before waking up the next morning a feverish mess.

I left the two younger ones with Papa and took Nature Girl to her performance. I entered her school and realized a striking similarity in layout to Sandy Hook. The office... the younger children's classrooms just off to the left. My daughters are ages 6 and 7.

I stood in the hall where the stage was set up and had to work to keep my composure. Those thoughts of how and why racing through my mind. The What-Ifs. My imagination filling in the terrible details of the scene.

I have steadfastly avoided over exposing myself to this news. I haven't watched any at all, but have read reports, read the names and seen the faces of the adults and children lost and signed multiple gun control petitions. We don't need to immerse ourselves in this to respect and honor the dead.

I've chosen not to tell my children. Fortunately, the English schools aren't bringing it up and it's easier for parents here to shield their young children from news overseas. I turn off the radio when the news comes on, and from previous explanations, the girls understand that I do so when the news is inappropriate for their age. It's my job to protect them. To preserve their innocence.

Today it is my turn. It's hard to avoid getting sick when children are literally coughing in your face. The children are on the mend, hopefully back in school for one last day tomorrow. I'm the only one left with a fever, but I've welcomed the opportunity to cuddle for hours with my little ones, taking turns reading, napping with The Boy. Asking, "Who's going to take care of Mommy?" and having them all wrap their arms around me telling me they will.

In the day to day, dealing with a house full of feverish, coughing, miserable children seems hard. But this week I have perspective. I get to wrap my arms around them and comfort them and be comforted by them. They will get better. My children will have Christmas. My family is together, on the road to health and I am so grateful.

12 comments:

  1. Hiya! Popping over from the Aloha Friday blog hop. So sorry your kids are sick so hang in there. Pop over and say hi
    www.mommyhasaheadache.blogspot.com

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  2. Oh no...the flu just sucks. Hang in there, and you are totally right....You get to nurture them and hug them. Such a blessing. I have been avoiding the news. Not because I'm not compassionate about what happened, but because I am very sensitive, and it could send me into a depressed tail spin.

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    1. I think you're right to avoid the news then. The whole nation could go into PTSD. I wish the news wasn't so rooted in sensationalism.

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    2. Not only have I avoided all forms of media coverage but I have tried to keep busy & not think about it at all...I've been near vomiting a few times at the thought of what those Childrens' final moments because I've been privy to traumatic final moments. The fear they experienced tears me up from the inside out & I am enveloped with an insatiable rage. And a disconcerting sense of helplessness. Has it really come to the need for an armed guard at every classroom across America to allow our children to be educated? It is sickening to me, but gun control laws are not THE solution. The solution is multifaceted, & begins with responsible gun ownership. My children do not have access to my guns. Nor should a troubled young man have had.

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    3. I can't even imagine the things you've been privy to, nor would I want to. It's taken me days to respond to this comment because it hurts to think of the things you go through on the job.
      Not everyone is responsible as you - you're trained. I agree the solution is multi-faceted and I do hope to hear more about what you think the approach should be.

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  3. Hi Tamara,
    I am so sorry that you all have the flu. I went through that earlier this year, even a trip to the ER. Fortunately, no one else in the house got sick, but the house seemed to stop because mommy was sick. My heart just goes out to you, but since you are all sick, why not snuggle together? That sounds like so much, considering the circumstances.
    Thank you for stopping by and joining the Thumping Thursdays blog hop and for your lovely comment. I am following you back. Hope to see you back. Let me know how the cookie sheet works out for you.

    Karina

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    1. Thanks for your visit!! Glad you've recovered from your bout with the flu and that ours didn't get nearly that bad!

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  4. The recent events in Newtown sure do put things into perspective. It was kind of weird to be in my son's elementary school for his winter concert this week. Being sick is no fun, but at least you got some good cuddling time in!

    Happy Holidays! Visiting from SITS Sharefest.

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  5. Hello from Sharefest! You have a healthy approach and perspective. Thank for posting. Merry Christmas

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  6. We haven't had the flu this season, but we did go through a coughing illness. It was awful with everyone overlapping sicknesses. And our son had albuterol treatments. He didn't react well to the drug and lost his ever loving mind (bit a girl at school, grabbed another by the shirt collar and slapped him and then swan dove off the bed to end up in the ER...all within about a six hour time frame). But with only one child it doesn't last as long or keep getting shared. Of course now we head to the vet in an hour bc our dog has a horrible cough! Hope you guys feel better by Christmas. Found you @ SITS. Glad I did.

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    1. That's so frightening! I've heard of terrible reactions to some drugs, but it must have been scary seeing him go through it!
      We're still under the weather, but we won't let it spoil Christmas, of course! Thanks for stopping by.

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