Monday, July 21, 2008

Is this karma?

Note: If you see me as a confident, caring, sweet, mom and want to continue to see me this way--skip this post and read one of my older ones. This post shows what a true nutcase I can be.

Our sermon yesterday was about lying--and this includes false flattery, gossip and just not being completely honest. I have to confess. I hold occasional grudges against some moms. Moms who bring snotty kids out in public. I even left a play group because of one mom who managed to bring a constant snotty son to our group every week. I was sick of being rude and snatching my daughter away from her son and I was not comfortable with the smugness I felt as I got a desperate call from the mom whose child played with the boy asking what natural things helped a horrible cough. I do not like that side of me and as a past post explains, I am trying hard to fight this.

So late last week, Spanky had his first major illness after joining the gym. He was throwing up, everywhere. I reeked, our bed sheets reeked, the house. reeked. badly. I did the 'right' thing; the thing I expect every mom to do. I stayed home. I say I do it because 1. I don't want to get other kids sick and 2. When a child is sick, they catch just about anything they come into contact with because immunity is busy fighting their current virus (see how much thought I put into this). But wait--let's be honest, there is a reason number 3. I do not want other moms to judge me the  way I have judged them. I don't want to be that mommy with the sick kids. I'd rather be the mommy who was once a Hooters girl and poised for Playboy (hey, at least we'd have a solid savings account). 

Fast forward to this morning--Miley has ballet workshop--her very pricey $45 a day ballet intensive workshop. She has a sore throat. She is tired. I have already skipped the gym--don't want her to catch something else or share it with the other kids--right?! But I am sitting her thinking, she needs to go to workshop. It is not every day--just a few days a week for three weeks. I also need to get out of this house. If I spend one more moment on this slightly reeking couch watching Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew (and pausing every other minute for a 'funny' pose), I am may very well stat pulling out my toenails. 

Overall Miley seems OK--she is eating, talking, laughing. She just isn't moving around as much. She gives me sad looks and tells me she can barely talk. No fever, no snot, no cough. Just a sore throat. I am telling myself, she will be fine. But what if she has the nasty sore throat I had a few weeks back. It was terrible and I would be terrible to send her out. And then there's the whole karma thing--what if she catches something even worse or gets all her friends ill? 

It's my sanity versus my illness fears. I don't know what I am going to do at this point. 

18 comments:

Grace Acres said...

This ishy you get awarded, you are real, and hilarious. By the way what is an ebook?

Brian and Staci said...

I'm right there with ya sistah! So, does that make me bad too! Can't imagine being "bad" with anyone else :) I don't think we are bad...I think we are rational. All that said...as long as NO fever is involved, no gross snot or anything, I think she's good to go. May just be allergy related? Regardless, I hope your Miley is back to 100% soon!

Anonymous said...

It's tough to make that call. If you think she were REALLY sick, I know you would keep her home.

Anti-Supermom said...

I'm with the last poster, I think you could tell if she was really sick, if she HAD to stay home. Sometimes kids egg on being a little more sick than they really are. (Which I'm sure you know that.)

Hope she's doing better already!

Gretchen said...

Hey so it's almost 4pm now. Did she go or not? Usually for me, if no fever is involved, I go by how they are feeling. If they are droopy and lethargic then they stay home. If they have so much energy that I might hide in the bathroom (like most days) then I say take her to Ballet. $45 a day is a lot to part with if she's not going!!

mah-meeee said...

this is a tough situation... i mean, overall it is your call. it is not like you let your child go out sick all the time, but then again... the guilt.

hope everyone is well soon!

Elizabeth Byler Younts said...

you are so funny...and i love your honesty.

i am less paranoid about runny noses but it frustrates me when it's the church nursery. i worked in the nursery yesterday and had deal with a little snotty-nose kid whose mom apparently didn't notice or didn't care. i think it's good for kids to get germs though...that's kind of like a work out for their immune systems. miley I'm sure is fine. just give her some of your home remedy stuff and keep her hydrated. :-)

we all have our "thing" and i can really appreciate your germ issues b/c I have had to really work this out myself b/c I would naturally be more worried about this...but my mom always reminds me that germs are good for kids as long as it's not overdone. :-) hahaha

now, didn't you mention that you were on dr. phil for a germ thing?

btw...CONGRATS on your award from photomama. LOVE IT! it's a great award and you deserve it!

Lizz @ Yes, and So is My Heart said...

Oh, I hope she feels better soon. We stayed home from the gym today for the same reason.

Anonymous said...

Got caught up in the Blog Hop and came over. Your children are adorable.

Anonymous said...

Got caught up in the Blog Hop and came over. Your children are adorable.

Burgh Baby said...

Sometimes you just have to go with your gut and let them go . . .

I look at it this way--if I had the same symptoms, would I stay home from school/work? Fever is, of course, a deal breaker--nobody goes anywhere if there is a fever.

OHmommy said...

It is so hard. Isn't it?

Usually, when I make them go to something after they complain.... turns out they are really sick after all.

I can never get it wrong.

Unknown said...

I wish it could just be cut and dry but there always seems to be a gray area of sickness when there's something the kids need/want to do! I've been there too!

Hope she's feeling better.

JCK said...

I'm so sorry you've been through the ringer with illness lately. Hopefully you'll be able to tell how she is and if she is getting sick.

I've missed reading you! I'm trying to catch up!

Kendra said...

Oh I understand completely. It is hard to know which is the right way to go sometimes. At least you can find some comfort in knowing you are not alone! :)
Have a good week Lisa.

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

Ask yourself what decision you would make if there was no money involved.

Anonymous said...

It IS a tough call to make. Had that been me, I probably would have kept her home, just because I have intense fears of being "THAT" mom.

You are doing the best you can, just by virtue of the fact that you can articulate your past downfalls and not wanting to make the same mistakes again.

You have really had a rough road of it lately with all the illness...but such is life with little kids.

BTW...I wouldn't reccomend the kitty cat in the dryer either, just think of all the cat hair you'd be picking off all your other clothes for ages to come! *lol*
J/K!

EatPlayLove said...

I judge as well. I can't help it. I hate when people consciously take their sick kids out. WTF...