So. Children.

Today, two of my wee ones are home from school. And I am less than thrilled about it.

My second born, Beta, may actually be legit; she did have diarrhea yesterday, and complained of a stomach ache pretty much from late afternoon up until bed time last night. And then she woke this morning, still not feeling well, although she manage to eat breakfast. After breakfast, she said she felt better. But about 40 minutes later, she was flumped out on the couch, holding her stomach, looking a tad froggy. As in, green. She said, Mom, my stomach really hurts again. I thought it was better but it really hurts. I wanna go lay down.

So I let her go lay down, and she's camped out on the bed, eating graham crackers.

Meanwhile, I get the other kids out the door and on their way, and Alpha starts complaining that her head hurts, she feels hot, she feels cold, she feels shaky, her throat hurts... despite this litany of complaints, I sent her on her way with the usual admonishment; If, in an hour, you still feel sick, give me a call.

Usually, they don't call.

Today, almost an hour on the dot, the school nurse called me. Alpha is sick. Not feeling well. She needs to come home.

Fiiiiiiiiine. Siiiiiiggghhhhhh. So I go get her.

Now, this may sound pretty heartless, especially if you don't have school aged children. And even if you do, maybe your kids don't play sick, ever, and that makes you one up on me. However, I am not heartless, I love my kids more than I love to breathe, but this is the second time that I've gone and picked up Alpha for "not feeling well" and school just started LESS THAN A MONTH AGO.

Not off to an auspicious start.

SO I get her in the car, and I kinda light into her. I say kinda because really, I didn't light into her, but I basically told her that sometimes, even though we don't feel all that great, we still have to suck it up and get through the day. I can't tell you how many times I have been sick sick sick and still had to muddle through. Because that is my job. And that's life. And that's being a parent and a spouse. Because that's what happens sometimes.

She nods, looking miserable, and of course I feel wretched and guilty, but it still needed to be said. She is starting to figure out that if she complains enough, I'll let her off the hook, because I trust her. And now I'm starting to think that she may just be a little on the hypochondriac side. Not that I think she has that disorder or anything, not seriously, but I do think she milks it.

I know she milks it!

However, I still felt really guilty as I took in her pallid complexion and dark circles under her eyes. I can tell she isn't feeling well... but I can tell, too, that she could have made it through the day. Probably.

Haha, now watch, she'll get a fever or something.

Not that it'll be funny. Just ironic.

Because sometimes, life is that, too.

Oh, and my productive day just went out the window. I had planned to go run a few errands, but alas, not gonna happen now. Oh darn. Really. Darn.

Later, kiddos.