The call goes something like this: "Hello, mom, this is Michelangelo. I'm in the nurses office and I don't feel good. I'm nauseous and want to come home."
"Are you sure you can't make it through the rest of the day? You have to babysit your sisters tonight. Are you up to that?"
"Oh, I can do that. I guess I can make it through the rest of the day."
What do you do?
This time I went to get her. It's the second time in only 1/8 of the school year in which this has happened. The first time was because she didn't eat breakfast till after she got to school and was on antibiotics. A bad combination.
Michelangelo has a history of being somewhat of a hypochondriac. However, I learned early on to not just blow her off. I've cleaned up puke more times than I'd like to admit because I told her she was fine when she really wasn't.
I've also learned that sometimes she just needs my attention. If I feel her head, give her a bucket (just in case) and let her know I'm listening, it makes her happy. This is not always easy to do when it happens all the time and, honestly, sometimes I fail.
On the way home I asked her if anything was going on at school. She gets good grades so I couldn't see it being that. I was more concerned of social issues.
No, she was having a good day. She just started feeling bad at PE and thought she needed to eat. When she still felt bad after lunch and into History, she decided she couldn't make it through the day.
Teens. More specifically, teen girls. Is this a sign of what I can expect? I know from personal experience that there are times when, as a girl (woman) you just don't feel well. Unfortunately, we have to power through on those days. It's not a free pass to stay in bed. If she ends up having cycles like mine, she's in for a rough path. Doable, but rough. I hope that's not the case.
When I picked her up from school I thought the office person was giving me that look. You know the one. The "Oh, you just are going to give into her little whims every time she calls. You as such a sucker." look. I don't care what the woman thought. If she calls again, I'll probably get her again. It's a difficult time for her. She's going through a lot, growing up, fitting in, finding out who she is.
Maybe she's not going to puke all over the floor, but she still needs her mom to care and I'm not going to let her down.
Oh, but I also didn't let her watch t.v., play video games or play on the computer. If you come home sick, you go to bed to sleep. No electronics. I'm not that much of a sucker.
7 comments:
I would have done the same thing. Such as picking her up from school. Altho., I would have my oldest lay on the couch when that would happen and let her watch TV. 9 times out of 10, she would fall asleep anyway. As far as the lady in the office. I doubt she has any medical degree...so who is she to judge a child when they're sick?!
I think you did the right thing. And if she knows she can't go home to watch TV or play computer or video games, then she probably wasn't faking.
It's such a lose-lose thing. No matter whether you pick her up or not, it's suck.
My mom thought I was a hypochondriac also and always threatened me with "if you are sick enough to stay home, maybe I should call the doctor." I absolutely hate doctors. I've never used this on my girls because I can remember going to school no matter how bad I felt.
Hope she is feeling better. Sam is my hypochondriac. Although, truly she is hardly ever sick. She has not missed one day of school for illness (this year or last). But there is always something 'wrong' with her. Yesterday her stomach hurt, sometimes it's her throat, etc.. I just kinda blow it off. She doesn't act sick.
That would be a though call. I am sure I would have picked her up too! Not sure I couldn't have kept the TV away. What a good mom you are!
Sounds oh so familiar!!! That would describe my oldest daughter exactly!
This is such a tough one because with mine, especially the older ones, I am kind of looking at the non-specicfic claims as a ticket home. And I guess I might have to say no electronics OR books believe it or not, because my oldest would like nothing better than a day home in bed to read! (a good and a bad thing.) The older two kids, actually.
On the other hand, this week my middle son was home WITH the tv on, because he was on the toilet 11 times before noon! And by end of day had 100.8 temp. But I did almost send him to school. Until I heard he was going into the bathroom for the 4th time. OH!! Why didn't you SAY SO! ... I guess he was trying. :{ oops.
I also know what you mean that sometimes they just need us. Mom DOES know best.
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