You Give Me Fever

Yeah, and you wanna know why?  Because you sent your kid to school jacked-up on Tylenol, knowing damn well that s(he) had a fever!  

Ooooooh. Pet Peeve.  It's mysterious to me, and it angers me that parents knowingly send their kids to school when they are sick.  A school administrator that I know (and hey, I've taught in 3 states and sent kids to schools in 3 others...so don't try to guess!) recently told me that some parents will come in at lunch time to give their kids another dose of Tylenol to keep their fever at bay.

Why don't parents understand that a fever-reducer is like an ice pack...it dulls the pain, but the source still exists.  A fever is a signal that the body is infected.  Even with Tylenol, the body remains infected, and is CONTAGIOUS. 

Even more so, sick kids need to be at home, with someone to love on them, and a place to rest, cuddle and hydrate.

Charlie's teacher called me about an hour after I had dropped him off today, and told me that he wasn't feeling well.  

"He's not?" I said.  "He was so excited for the Make Your Own Pizza Party today!"

"I know...I know," Ms. Howard said, "But he's warm, and he doesn't feel good, and he doesn't want to stay."

"Oh no!  I'm so sad for him!" I said.  "I'll be right there."  

When I arrived at school, Charlie was pale and sad.  He started to cry when I walked in.  I was so happy to get him, and to take him home, and to take him to the doctor, and to love on him.  Of course, after a buffet lunch of Tylenol and Mortin, he starts bouncing off the walls again, but I know that this is pretend, and that there's a bug inside, churning around.  As soon as that medicine wears off, he's speaking Tagalog and I'm stripping him down and rising him in a cold shower.

It is my understanding that kids who have fevers need to stay home from school until they have been fever-free for 24 hours.  To me, this is NOT an inconvenience.  It is an opportunity - to watch Disney movies on the couch (and clean out that catalog basket, while I'm just sitting there), to take a nap with just one of my kids, to eat a popsicle, and to read stacks of pocture books for a long time.  I can not see what in life is so important that a child can not stay home from school when he or she is sick.  The working parents that I know all have "back-up" plans for when their kids become ill - and some even work for compassionate employers who allow them to go home and be with their children.

I had a great day planned for tomorrow.  They day was to start with our annual family sing-along at school.  The kids and parents request songs, and Mr.Koski, the best music teacher in the history of Planet Earth, plays them and we all sing.  Then, the kids and I were going to be escorted into the Pentagon with the Pesuts, to see Russ put on 0-5.  We all had special outfits picked out, and were excited to start our journey with a ride on the Metro.  It was going to be a great adventure for us.  But you know what?  I'm staying home with two feverish kids.  The big girls will get to sing with Aunt Heather at school.  Russ and Jen will be surrounded by lots of family at the Pentagon.  I'm going to be here in my pajama pants watching Sesame Street, so that THEY don't pass their germs on to anyone else, and so that they can recover!  It's going to be a GREAT DAY, once again.

Thanks for listening to my rant...hope you all are healthy!

About that whole crying over spilled milk thing...

...not a problem in this family.  He actually completed the pour and enjoyed a glass.  CHEERS!

Most Richly Blessed

...tonight I am by the candle again.   To my friends in Louisville - my heart is with you and the Gants.  

For my readers, the Gants' son, Charles, 8, is very ill. He was a classmate of Caroline's, and his mom, Kelly, is a friend of mine, and was Caroline's teacher. Please remember his family tonight.

I have some wonderful friends that come to me with love and understanding, whenever I need support.  I wrote to Angela Smith tonight and asked her to pray for the Gants, and for me, and she remembered this poem and sent it to me

Creed for the Suffering, written by an unknown soldier:

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve;

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health, that I might do greater things;

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy;

I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men;

I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life;

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am among all men most richly blessed. 

It's That Time of Year

I'd like to take a minute to discuss teacher gifts.  It's late, as usual, so I'll be brief.  Newcomers to the blog need to know that I was a teacher for seven years - which amounts to nothing for the old timers.

1.  Do not buy a teacher anything, ever, with an apple on it.  If you do, you should be put against a tree, with an apple on your head, and an archer in front of you.

2.  Do not buy a candle.  Really.  A candle?  This person spends days on end with your child, and you purchase a vase of wax for them?  Trust me.  They will have twenty candles by the end of last day of school.  They can do without yours.

3.  Do not buy a gift certificate, unless it is enormous.  A gift certificate is a good way of saying, "I don't really know you well enough to buy a personal gift for you, and money is super impersonal, so this is just kind of impersonal. Have fun paying for the last 1/3 of your silk blouse on your own measly salary at Nordstrom."

Here are some good ideas of what TO buy for your child's teacher:

1.  Alcohol.  Yes, Mrs. Beasey Room 2C may wear a sweater embroidered with images of muppets every Thursday, but you know what?  She's an adult.  Chances are she needs a stiff drink after dealing with a miniature version of you for the past nine months.  Buy her a NICE bottle of wine, that she might not normally purchase for herself.  Make sure that you know if she drinks or not, first.  Teachers that don't drink are often happy to have something on hand to serve to their guests.

2.  Anything monogrammed.  A monogrammed gift says, "I bought this just for you."  If you know of your teacher's interests, that makes it even better.  Last year, Caroline's teacher was really excited about spending the summer at the pool with her grandson.  I bought her two beach towels:  one with "Mimi" on it, and one with "Jayden."  She loved them so much that she held them up for everyone to see at the end of the year faculty meeting.  I also bought some teachers make-up bags, which were a big hit.  Four our teacher that loves to sail, I bought a big Bean's Boat and Tote with the name of her boat on it.  If you do not know your child's classroom teacher well enough to know what one of his or her personal interests are, then I think you have something to work on for next year.  That's just me.

3.  And I think this is the best possible gift that you can give, and it will take a bit of a sacrifice on your part:  a NOTE.  That's right.  No, an email does not count.  No, you can not message them on Facebook.  You can take out a pen, find a nice piece of paper, and thank your child's teacher.  It doesn't cost one penny, and it will be your teacher's favorite gift.  Think of a time during this school year that made a difference to your child, or to you, and write about it.  You don't have to be fancy, and if you misspell, that's okay.  Your teacher will just mark up your note with a red pen and write SEE ME on the top of it when she gets home, anyway.  Teaching, for the most part, is a thankless profession.  Excellent teachers find that the greatest gift is working with children, and watching them learn and grow...but it's exhausting, and every teacher likes a pat on the back.  

"If you can read this, thank your teacher!"

Nighty night!