Monday, May 7, 2012

DAY TWENTY FOUR: Child Sick Day

At 2 a.m. this morning, Kenna knocked on the door to our room.  I honestly don't remember what this was about.  At around 2:30, she knocked again to tell us she had a tummy ache.  I didn't necessarily believe her.  At 2:45, she got sick.  In the hallway.  There is nothing like cleaning up carpet at 3 a.m. to ruin your day.  Except another round of sick at 3:30.  And 5:15.  And 7.

Needless to say, after the first round, I had to cancel my subbing position at the High School for Biology.  I was kind of looking forward to it, but then again, this may have been a blessing after all.

Kenna was doing fine by 9 this morning, so it was an easy day at home.  The kind I couldn't wait for when I was working because I got to stay home from work at my kid's expense.  Now, I was kind of irritated because it meant I wouldn't get paid for today.  It's amazing the difference in mentality when you don't have paid sick leave.

It made me realize something.  I had grown selfish at my old job.  I stayed home under the claim that "I can help Kristin go to work at Mother's Day Out if I stay home and take care of Kenna."  This was true, but really and truly, I was just glad to be off work.  It was about me, not my wife or my sick kid.

As I was feeling irritated at the lost days wages, this occurred to me.  And I felt like scum.  Sure, we could use the money, but my daughter could use some attention and love.

It put me in a funk for the rest of the day.  That combined with the lack of sleep and an ill-advised walk in the afternoon sun carrying Leslie bike to school means that now I don't feel the best.

I guess that's kinda poetic justice.

Kenna is feeling tons better- even getting to play with the neighbor's granddaughter this afternoon-, which is great, and Leslie loved her bike ride home.  No word from Kristin's interview yet, so we're a little down here.  Not the best day of this journey by any means.


No comments:

Post a Comment