Comments on: You Got the Fever!

By: Larousse

Larousse — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:30:27 +0000

Ah well I am a MOB of boys young enough to let me test the temperature of their foreheads with my lips, which I think is more accurate than your hand, and conveniently gives them a sympathetic kiss on the head at the same time!

Both of mine hardly ever get a fever, but do tend to get horrible hacking coughs, usually on a day when they really MUST go to school, some test or book to hand in etc. My youngest had a day like that on the last day before the winter vacation, so I gave him some cough syrup and dressed him in warm clothes, with a warning to the teacher that he had a “bit of a cough”. (no school nurse unfortunately). He got through the day with no problem! But sometimes if they’ve been borderline off colour we let them stay at home.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 13:11:13 +0000

OH my goodness I am laughing my butt off over here. Those steps were perfect! I love the front of the hand. Back. Front. Back. Flip it over five times just waiting for the answer…

We all do it, I think. And I am know that I, for one, am still waiting for all the enlightened parent crap to hit me so I can at least feel like I know what the heck I am doing on SOME DAYS.

Thanks for this Saturday Morning chuckle. Is it bad that I almost wish my boys were struck with low-grade fevers this morning instead of running rampant in my house?!

By: Elizabeth @ Life in Pencil

Elizabeth @ Life in Pencil — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 20:01:23 +0000

My mom used to IMPOSE mental health days in high school, because I was so high-strung and REFUSED to call in sick, even when I was going bonkers. My mom would pull sneaky tricks like turn off my alarm clock in the middle of the night! It used to piss me off, but I can see as an adult that she was trying to do something good for my mental health.

By: M0therAdm1n

M0therAdm1n — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:45:30 +0000

My Mom gave me mental health days too actually. But it was a little later in years (high school). I will certainly do the same. To be honest, because I work from home, I will wait until the kids are completely self sufficient before offering the mental health days. Noah was great yesterday – but he still needed a little entertaining. (Thats how he got his Facebook page!) Talk about letting the horse out of the barn! But agree with Terry, Goofdad and Gale. (And I believe Jennifer is a proponent of the MHD as well.)

By: terry

terry — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 18:17:14 +0000

What about mental health days? Sometimes they just need a day off. I see that Gale had one each semester. COOL.

My mom always let me play hooky! I must admit I am delighted to let the kids stay home and chill.

By: goofdad

goofdad — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:39:47 +0000

I’m at the opposite end of the spectrum. As long as you’re learning and your grades are kept up, I don’t care WHY you feel the need to miss school.

I work in an industry that typically has “PTO” days, not sick days or vacation days. Normally, I can just call in and say “I’m not coming in today” and there are no questions asked. As my kids have moved into Jr High and High School, I usually afford them the same courtesy.

All bets are off if someone has a major project due, or a band performance, or whatever.

BUT … My lenience is also balanced by the goofmom, who is MUCH stricter

By: Gale

Gale — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:30:28 +0000

When we were kids (well, teenagers in a ridiculously stressful prep school) we got one “mental health day” each semester. When things just got tough and we felt stressed out and we needed a break, we got to have Mom call us in sick. We would sleep in, watch movies, and go out to lunch with Mom. They were wonderful days!

By: jennifer

jennifer — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:09:23 +0000

LOL on step #9. Just the other day Hugh begged to stay home claiming general lousiness of feeling. As we were coming off The 6 Day Weekend, I refused on grounds of poor timing. He made me feel immature when he said “It’s not about how many days I’ve had at home, it’s about how sick your child is!” Still made him go with a caution to visit the nurse if necessary. He got cough drops and hot tea from the nurse and made it through the day, later telling me I was right. I predict the same outcome for Noah today.