Life teaches us all many lessons. Some of them are achieved far more easily than others. Here are just two that come to mind:
1) Beware what you say around children for they are bound to REPEAT anything and everything.
2) In a wrestling match, while pinned underneath your opponent. . .no matter how tempting. . .never. .NEVER. . spit. .it just doesn't work!
This story begins one morning with Cody waking up, complaining of a sore throat. With a mixture of concern and skepticism, I took a look into his throat. It was quite red and swollen but we ALL were experiencing red and swollen throats from sinus drainage and allergies. I took his temperature to be on the safe side and he was temp free. I told him to brush his teeth and to continue to get ready for school. I also told him that I would call and see about scheduling a doctor's appointment for him later on in the day, most likely, after school.
Bruce felt that I was overreacting, yet I reminded him that Cody had been complaining of a sore throat on and off for a couple of days and coupled with his complaints of severe body aches, I felt that it was worth seeing a doctor about. Really, truth be known, I had watched a Dateline special the night before which highlighted new information on a Strep A strain that was killing people, mostly children. The words of the mother who had recently lost her child echoed in my head. I could still hear her pleas imploring parents to take their children in to see the doctors and not ignore such symptoms. I mentioned this to Bruce, and even though we both felt that it was probably "growing pains" that Cody was experiencing, we agreed that it was best just to take him in and alleviate any worries.
Here is where the story gets interesting. Sometime around 10:00 a.m. that morning, intent upon completing some project at work, I received a call from Cody's school. Apparently, Cody had gone to his teacher and informed her that he had Strep Throat and that his mommy had sent him to school anyway.
Maybe you can imagine what his teacher must have thought at hearing these words.
Maybe you can imagine what went through MY HEAD!
Having a best friend who does substitute work at this same elementary school, I am quite familiar with the kinds of things that are said about certain parents who knowingly send their children to school ill, let alone with such a contagious virus as Strep Throat! Worst of all, I could hear the accusing tone in this woman's voice whose job it was to call these "uncaring" parents.
Not quite sure how to respond to this news I said the only thing I could, "Don't kids say the darndest things?" I then launched into an explanation of our morning events. Finally, I informed her that if Cody did have Strep Throat, it was surely self-diagnosed. Furthermore, as concerned parents, we had made plans earlier that morning to take him in for a second opinion that very afternoon. Our decision to send him to school was based on his lack of an elevated temperature, his general appearance of wellness, and our true belief that he was not a viable health risk to his schoolmates.
At this point. . .and much to my relief. . she was laughing. Her response was to tell me that he did appear to be quite well, noting that as we were speaking he had gone over to select some reading material to pass his time away. She concurred with me that he should be allowed to go back to his class and also expressed some words of encouragement, something in the way of looking at the whole situation positively. . . maybe he was just practicing for a future profession in the medical field.
To myself, I was thinking, "Yeah, right. . . . .that's IF he lives that long!" (big smile)
So. . . always watch what you say around children. . .as they are SURE to repeat it in some form or fashion. . ..
As for the other bit of wisdom. . . . it's pretty self-explanatory and learned the HARD way, after SEVERAL foolish attempts to spit "UPwards" while wrestling with my older, much stronger - and maddeningly frustrating brother! What goes up, you can sure bet, is going to make it's way back down!