Take one small, sweaty 3 month old,
separate from 2 busy working parents,
and finally, mix in one large part mom guilt.
Mathilda had her first sick day. Yep, 3 weeks of daycare and she already has to stay home sick. Sunday she developed a small fever. I called the pediatrician who recommended Tylenol and monitor the fever. As they had hoped and expected, one dose of tylenol and her fever was lower, 2 doses and it was gone. She woke up Monday morning with a slightly greater fever. 1 dose of tylenol and it completely went away. Nonetheless, she had to stay home from daycare (no fever for 24 hours is the rule). So we had a sick day. She was a bit fussy in the morning, but then her usual happy self all afternoon. We went to the new Target in our neighborhood, took a walk, made dinner, and she took 2 good naps (Thanks daycare for apparently nap training my infant!). And she got to hang out all day at home in just her diaper to keep her nice and cool. Lucky girl!
 |
| asleep on the living room floor (yes, I was next to her the entire time, and YES I know about "back to sleep", and NO she does not sleep on her tummy ever- except this time) |
Then she woke up today with barely a fever- just a few tenths over the "fever limit" (100.4 for babies) but a fever, and thus we are home sick again.
I wish she was older- we could eat chicken soup and watch Mary Poppins.
I wish I didn't have school work to do.
 |
| kiss away the guilt? |
"Well, that's daycare for you!"
As if I send her to some sesspool run by Jabba the Hut everyday! Her daycare is clean, sanitary, they wear gloves to change diapers, everything is labeled, nothing is shared, no shoes allowed in the room, hand washing constantly.
She could just be getting a tooth- I can't imagine she has a virus if it goes away so quickly.
But I still feel guilty. Guilty that I send her to daycare in the first place. Then guilty that I have to leave my work to other people so I can take care of her. I'm the "best" kind of working mom, in that my "work" is often my own research and thus can often easily reschedule to accommodate my mom jobs. I work with many professional working mothers, and I've seen the eye rolling from other employees when they have to dash out of the office to care for a sick child. I never realized how conflicted and guilty they must feel having to leave their job-job for their mom-job. The other way (guilt over leaving the mom-job for the job-job) I've experienced and expected.
 |
| smile, Mathilda! |
 |
| she's learning the art of the self-photo |
Personally, I think Mathilda is just faking- playing hooky. I guess I deserve it, I'd be lying if I said I didn't do the same thing in my day (kids these days learn so quickly!) Does this look like a sick little bear to you?
I think she may be playing hooky too! Look at that face, doesn't look sick to me!! I'm glad she's feeling better better though :) The expressions on the cell pics are hilarious btw.
ReplyDeleteshe's adorable (those eyes!). i try to roll my eyes equally at the several dudes who leave my office to care for sick children, equal opportunity guilt ;)
ReplyDelete