Home Sick
By Cheryl Gochnauer
"Carrie's got laryngitis," my husband announced after going into the girls'room to administer morning hugs. I groaned. There went my "mother's dayout" and much-anticipated lunch with a girlfriend.
I do love my daughter, however, so tossing self-absorption aside, I kickedinto Physician mode. My little redhead limped into the bedroom and croaked,"Hi, Mommy." There was more, but her voice gave out. She crawled up on myside of the bed and hugged a pillow.
As the day of throat-soothing cool juice, warm soup and snuggles in Mommy'slap passed, I reflected on past sick days. There was a time when a warmforehead in the Gochnauer household signaled ominous overtones for more thanthe ailing child.
When I worked full-time, the decision to doctor my sick child was much morecomplicated. Which parent will miss work? Whose boss is moreunderstanding? Is she really sick, or can we send her to the sitter'swithout adverse results? And (I admit this shamefully), if I give her someTylenol, will her temperature go down - and stay down - until after my 11o'clock meeting?
If she was indeed needing that personal attention only Mommy can give, aseries of apologetic phone calls to coworkers and department heads, after anervous check of dwindling vacation days, would start my own head pounding.No longer is my decision to personally treat my child up for committee vote.
This afternoon, I pause to peek in the darkened bedroom where Little Redsnoozes, passed out from the double-whammy of antihistamines anddecongestants. She sleeps peacefully, knowing Mommy is nearby, armed withbackrubs and cool washcloths.
Later, we have a date to color and whisper to Barbies.
Carrie's daddy called at lunch to see how his little frog was doing. He'sdriving his tractor-trailer, concentrating on providing for the family,confident his youngest daughter is in good hands. At school, Karen eyes theclock as she finishes up her assignments. Maybe Carrie will feel good enoughto have a snack and watch Nickelodeon when Big Sister gets home.
Even on sick days, I love being a stay-at-home mom.
(Visit Cheryl's website at
www.homebodies.org
, or email your comments to
Cheryl@homebodies.org
. Her book, "So You Want to Be a Stay-at-Home Mom",may be a perfect gift for someone you know this Christmas. You can order anautographed copy from Cheryl at
www.homebodies.org/order.htm
.Copyright 1999 Homebodies.Org, LLC. Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com)
