Unfortunately, Little Bee, with a lower immunity due to a bad flu virus early this month, came down with a high fever this afternoon again. The incessant sponging, temperature checks and midnight watches that were just over early this month will become an ordeal starting from tonight.
Despite having had prior experience with Big Bee before, nothing can prepare a mother for the shockingly frequent bouts of illnesses that Little Bee came down with since she entered preschool. Unfortunately, I am working full time, otherwise, I will seriously consider homeschooling her completely until the kindergarten years!
That being said, this childhood routine is the bane of all parents - which is why I strongly believe that parenthood is a powerful journey in strengthening all our resilience. By looking cheerfully at our darlings when experiencing a mental double take when the thermometer showed 39 degrees Celsius. By speaking to them in light chirpy and positive tones although our hearts are heavy with worry. By trying all optimistic means to make our children feel comfortable despite feeling dark despair at times.
And parenthood is also about choices, especially for parents who are working professionals. In the event of a looming work deadline tomorrow, I had made the conspicuous choice to abandon work timelines for a trip to the pediatrician tomorrow. The roles we play as mothers are multifarious: to be wonderful, nurturing mothers; filial, caring daughters; charming, loving wives; gregarious and concerned friends; and for working mothers - to be dedicated, committed professionals; intelligent employees; enriching mentors; capable team-players.
And for me: there is clearly a choice for me tonight - to spend time working through the night to head towards that looming deadline, or to take my book and nestle beside Little Bee, bracing myself for a fever night watch. For me, I am taking the latter tonight - and every night, whenever my family needs me. As I told Hubby, when we pass on from this earthly world, no one will care how dedicated a professional I am. But my closest family in the world will take heart that I had always been there for them, with all-embracing love, as best as I could.
6 comments:
Hey, good for you. I agree that family comes first. And the dark despair, I can so understand.
Coincidentally, hubby and I were just talking about homeschooling yesterday morning. He didn't agree to let me send the kids back to school today because they still have a teeny weeny bit of phlegm in them. Mandy has missed almost 2 mths of school. Hubby's reasoning is that their immunity is still weak now, and will be very susceptible to diseases, esp dangerous now with the HFMD reaching epidemic level.
I was apprehensive but when we took them to an airconditioned place for dinner last evening and they started coughing slightly, I knew he was right. They can cough up to months and not recover completely because they have very sensitive airways. So are they going to miss 2 months of school every time they have a cough?
Homeschooling is very scary for me. Partly because I don't have a helper. So I have to spend a considerable amt of time doing chores and making meals. They are a bit too young to be left alone for long periods. They might fight or get into accidents and I'm reluctant to use the TV too much. Plus, I might just go crazy, facing them 24/7.
I'm in the same predicament. Darren has been sleeping very lightly since he's nursing a nasty cough and I wake up to 4 times a night. I'm tired.
Totally agree with you here! When we leave this world, the only thing that would really matter the most is the difference we have made to our loved ones.
I came to the realization 6 years ago, hence gave up my career to be a SAHM for my boys. Never looked back since.
I used to be vexed every time my boys got sick (which wasn't even very frequent compared to others), but these days, I like to see it from another perspective. The positive side of it is they are building up their immune system. :>
K: I think what you did in terms of your CL and English homelearning is more than adequate to homeschool them for the timebeing! If possible, letting them go to school in the kindy years might be better as they are bigger, with stronger immune system. Or you can take breaks like now - couple of months off school whenever they are down with something. Actually, children do learn more at home but I am a firm believer that school is good to build up their social and EQ skills.
Don't worry, looking at my experience with Big Bee, once they reach K2 and P1, their frequency of falling ill is so low that it is alarming when they fall sick (cos we seldom experience these big kids falling sick)! I guess we should all hang in there!
But MOST importantly - you are doing a FANTASTIC job at home nourishing and teaching them!! Keep it up!!
Viv: Oh dear, I hope Darren is ok? Is he off school as well? This vile cough virus is prevalent in the preschools! You take care, babe...must eat and drink well too.
Domesticgoddess: I think it is a very brave decision for you to give up your career to be a SAHM. But I think you are entrepreneurial and innovative enough to start an educational business! Salute to you! For me, I am more than ready, but my hubby feels that he is not ready to be a sole bread provider yet! So, I just have to slog on and try to maintain a strong work life balance as best as I could!
And yes, everytime they fall sick, I do agree that there is a positive side of strengthening their immune system. It is a matter of time before all these vile childhood sicknesses are over. And by then, it will be us old wheezing folks who will be falling sick, leaving our children to take care of us! Life is an interesting cycle, really...
Haha. that is what i joked about with my boys too. i asked them sometimes if they will be looking after mummy when mummy is all old and sickly and needed someone to wipe my butt and clean my face. They promptly and sweetly assure me (everytime) that they will! Haha.
Post a Comment