The Nurse
ByAnna came home from school yesterday with a fever of 101.9. She rarely, rarely gets sick, as soon as she got off the bus I could tell she was miserable.
“Why didn’t you go to the nurse?“ I asked.
With a look of pure exhaustion on her face, she looked up at me and shrugged. She sat down at the kitchen table to do her homework, I brought her some Tylenol, she finished one page of her homework and I said “you know, you can lay down, you won’t be going to school tomorrow.“ Without a word, she got up and laid on the couch.
I brought her a box of tissues, her favorite pink blankets, a pillow and water, I sat with her and watched her close her eyes for ten seconds at a time and I often became so emotional, literally, doing what I could to hold back the tears. I hated seeing my sweet girl sick.
As I sat with her, laid with her and cared for her throughout the night, I thought about how grateful I am for her health and for Noah’s health. I’ve seen and heard of so many parents who struggle with a child’s illness that is so much bigger than a sore throat and a fever, illnesses that last for months and years…
So, I’m grateful, now more than ever for their health, grateful for this opportunity to keep my child home from school, sit with her, read books to her, sleep with her; moments to slow down.
Being sick isn’t fun, but sometimes, especially for the parents, it gives us a moment to pause and praise and revel in the gifts that surround us. Which can be very, very sweet.
What a great message! Thank you for reminding us about how precious life is.
So true, and so beautifully written.
I remind myself daily how blessed I am to have the health of my family. (especially with other things going on in blogosphere) I often throw little pitty parties for myself because of my son’s allergies and how much it affects him. When I talk to people about it they are so remorsefull and look so sad about the things I am telling them. It’s then that it hits me. It’s just food. My child is well, he is healthy, he is playing with his toys. It’s just food. and then I remind myself how blessed I am.
My 10 month old HATES to cuddle, hates to be close, hates hugs. The only time he will lay in my arms is when he is sick. Though I never ever ever want him to be sick, I know it will happen many times and those times I am thankful that he is my baby and will just cuddle into me and let me take care of him. I treasure that time.. Mom’s are made to take all the hurt away…
Beautifully written post!
Hope she’s feeling better today.
I hope she is feeling better, it is so very sad when they don’t feel well.
Grateful over here, too.
That is so true.
Sickness requires us to stop and slow down. In doing so, we start to savor life’s treasures.
beautifully put.
I don’t like it when my kids are sick. On the other hand, they are sick so rarely, this it is a good excuse to slow down and cuddle with them and enjoy them. good reminder.
Thanks for this post Beth! I think we all sometimes forget how fortunate we are when it comes to our children’s health.
our family, too, is blessed so very much with being healthy. we are rarely sick. my almost 6-year-old came home almost two weeks ago with a low grade fever. shot up to 103-104 for four days in a row {over the weekend}. of course, everyone assumed the flu. went to the pediatric er on the fifth day of fever and it was bacterial pneumonia! i have three other children that are older (20, 20, 14) and they’ve never been to the er {thank god}. my little man had to have an IV antibiotic. the IV stayed in his hand as we took him home and returned the next day to the ER for another dose of IV antibiotic. i know your feelings exactly. i hope your precious sweetie pie is feeling better. zach was home for 11 days total, just because he could be, and because i said so!
I hope she’s feeling better soon.
I think of that often, as Boo gets nailed with one thing or another. So many others deal with constant batles, and we have simple ones. A wonderful reminder.
This is very true. Hope your little girl feels better soon.
So true. And we can all use that reminder. I hope she feels better soon.
I got teary eyed over the same thing a few days ago. My little one isn’t sick, but I have a friend who has a little girl who had to go to the hospital and has a pretty major illness and it just made me feel SO lucky that my little boy isn’t sick at all and rarely even gets a cold.
well said…as always!!
xoxo
SO TRUE! It’s the silver lining of illness, for sure. Thanks for the great reminder
I feel ya…my son came home today from school with the same look. Went straight to his room and layed down. He has a fever of 102.5.
And just like you I stopped and was thankful that they are healthy kids and he will be just fine.
Like I told him, himbeing 12 he hasnt needed/wanted Momma around…this moment tonight changed that.
I hope your llil girl feels better real soon.
I hate when my kids are sick too, but I do love being able to spend the day with them just snuggling, snoozing and being together.
So true…hope your little girl feels better soon!
Agreed! I hope she is feeling better.
I hate sick kiddos, but there is something peaceful and sweet about the cuddling. It does make you count your blessings when they are healthy most of the time.
I hope she’s feeling better today, and that you’re doing well, too.
Amen. Having kids who are healthy overall is truly a blessing – even when they get a cold or virus from time to time. Hopefully Anna is on the mend soon and hopefully no one else in your house gets sick!
Please be careful – you and the baby… Watch out for that fever and if the Tylenol stops being effective against it.
What a tough girl! I hope she feels better. Enjoy this day with her!
So sorry to hear that Anna’s sick. She’s definitely a trooper for staying at school all day.
I can remember the days where I was really sick (not just pretending to be sick, so I could stay home and watch Happy Days and Maury) and just wanting to be close to my parents. It was like the love and attention that they gave was really what was healing, not the NyQuil or the tylenol.
Yeah, being sick sucks, but being comforted by Mom & Dad sure makes it suck a little less.
*positive healing vibes* for Anna (& you & the rest of your crew!)
Poor baby.
Beautiful message and so true. Hope Anna is feeling better soon!!