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 day out" and much-anticipated lunch with a girlfriend.

I do love my daughter, however, so tossing self-absorption aside, I kicked into 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 my side of the bed and hugged a pillow.

As the day of throat-soothing cool juice, warm soup and snuggles in Mommy's lap passed, I reflected on past sickdays. There was a time when a warm forehead in the Gochnauer household signaled ominous overtones for more than the ailing child.

When I worked full-time, the decision to doctor my sick child was much more complicated. Which parent will miss work? Whose boss is more understanding? Is she really sick, or can we send her to the sitter's without adverse results. And (I admit this shamefully), if I give her some Tylenol, will her temperature go down - and stay down - until after my 11 o'clock meeting?

If she was, indeed, needing that personal attention only Mommy can give, a series of apologetic phone calls to coworkers and department heads, after a nervous 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 Red snoozes, passed out from the double-whammy of antihistamines and decongestants. She sleeps peacefully, knowing Mommy is nearby, armed with backrubs 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's driving his tractor-trailer, concentrating on providing for the family, confident his youngest daughter is in good hands. At school, Karen sits at her desk, absorbing all the sixth-grade knowledge this day affords. Maybe Carrie will feel good enough to have a snack and watch Nickelodeon when her big sister gets home.

Even on sickdays, I love being a stay-at-home mom.

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