Trapped and thankful for it...

Today I endured day 7 of my confinement, waiting for AR to recover from his never-ending and pretty nasty cold. I have made a couple of necessary trips to the store and church to teach Sunday School and Craig took time off last week so I could go to the gym and run an errand or two. We also went to a party on Saturday, when we incorrectly thought he was better. Other than that, however, it's been me and the little guy hanging out in our house sniffling and getting lots and lots of hugs (the cold has apparently brought on separation anxiety). Particularly amusing about all this is that it is simultaneously the type of experience that makes me want to go back to work and a big reason why I'm not working in the first place.

A sick child is the Achilles Heel of the working parent. I imagine most couples have had the debate over whose turn it is to stay home with a sick child, and for single parents the challenge is even greater. As a teacher, I've had students get sick in class and then tell me they threw up in the parking lot as well but their parents told them they had to go to school because the parent couldn't miss work or at least had to go in for a few hours. I know a lot of parents who have dosed their kids with Tylenol to conceal a fever and sent them to school or daycare or even taken them into work with them because they have a deadline they can't miss.  Don't get me wrong, I pass no judgement on this. In a world with limited leave and huge pressure to perform, parents do what they have to do in order to keep their jobs. I'm sure none of them want to take a sick child anywhere and wouldn't if they had a true choice.

I, however, did have a choice and made it when we decided to give up the second income and all that it provides to have me at home. This situation is exactly why we made that sacrifice. We're lucky that it was an option and our kids are lucky that, as crazy it might make me, there will be someone home with them for as long as it takes them to get well.

I am, however, wishing really hard that day is not too far away for AR. Although, given the way he was tugging on his ear today, I'm sensing we might not be as close as I'd like. Luckily, I've got nowhere to be but here - and the doctor's office.