I was in second or third grade and I had missed the lesson about roman numerals. I went to my grandparents in the mountains, with my mom by train… and I thought it was grand. But I was not expecting the consequences of feeling left behind in school. I had missed just one day after all! This has shaped my sense of always showing up, of commitment and not missing any days of school or of work. In retail it was very hard, as there were seemingly unending seasons of flu going around. And I had worked many days not feeling great.
I had to get over my own sense of order and decided to keep Jackie home on Wednesday as she started to cough and have a run nose. She is a morning person but that morning she slept in. He body is still adjusting to the intense activities and the weather often charging, usually erring on the side of cold.
Her afternoon nap was long and lavish. Again, much needed I’m sure. Thursday she woke up ready and excited to go to kindergarten. Three hours later the nurse called me that she has a very runny nose and though she doesn’t have a fever, we should take her home, just in case she is contagious. She was so excited I came to get her and wanted to go to the park. Miss energy galore. We went to the spa instead. It was cold outside. It was wonderful. I’ll say, who doesn’t want to leave work early and go to the spa!
Every other week, since we started going to kindergarten, Jackie displays flu symptoms. It is hard not to make the connection between the very second day she started going to kindergarten and the goop. I have been hoping she will develop immunity. Eventually. She used to eat kiwis and oranges and bananas. She now eats a lot more biscuits and other non-system builder snacks, from kindergarten, from grandparents, from parties.
I want to be a responsible mom, and to the best of my ability and knowledge to act accordingly in such cases of colds and flu. Fluids, superfoods, rest, some light medicine. I now understand why a third of the parents pulled their kids out of school. If after your very first day in school you come home with symptoms of a cold. It takes a week to get back to normal. Half of that time you stay home. Then you go again to school and the cycle restarts. It’s no fun.