Thursday, May 20, 2010

Sick and Tired


When I picked Parker up from daycare yesterday, his daily sheet said, “Cheerful.”

Fellow mothers know where I am going with this, yes?

From there, Parker fell asleep on the car ride home. He looked so cute all slumped over and snoring. He still slept on my shoulder as we went in the house, so I took my rare opportunity to just HOLD my boy for a while. We sat on the couch together and I just held my precious lovey. It was a moment of stillness and calm. Togetherness and present-ness. Moments like that you feel you could hold your child forever.

And then he woke up.

What happened next was about a 4 hour tantrum – the kind that comes and goes – but pretty much sticks around the whole night. This is the way he acts when he is coming down with something. (It’s been about a week since we were at the doctor last, guess it’s time to go again!)

I thought children were tired when they were sick. You know, aren’t they supposed to lay around with a pout on their face and watch endless TV? That sounds quite relaxing.

But, noooo. My child must zombie around the house moaning, crying, whining, and shrieking, “NO!” whenever anything is said to him. Then, if he is so inclined, he may walk up to you and hit you just so you know how gnarly he feels. This then puts him in time out, which increases the tantrum. Then, when the tantrum starts to calm, he does things like walk into the corner of the kitchen island, and the screaming starts all over.

He had started to calm down a bit at one point and I had set out some apple slices for him to snack on. He started eating a slice, and I have no idea what set off the crying again, but it started, then he began choking a little, then I’m running to him to pound his back, and he throws up all over the place when the apple dislodges. And, he does not prefer changing his clothes or diaper much, so there continues to be NO. RELIEF. FROM. THE. CRYING.

You want to feel sorry for the poor kid, but MY GAWD, I’d rather put a cigarette out in my eye WHILE giving birth, than hear more crying (or the word NO!). Even right now, I am thinking, my poor bub. He is getting sick. I must love him and hold him and do whatever he needs to feel better, and I will stay so, so patient no matter what. That line of thinking usually lasts about five minutes, then it’s survival mode. With wine. Wish us luck tonight!

16 comments:

Gillian Behnke said...

Oh yeah, I've been there. Recently. I can only sympathize and share a glass of wine with you across the miles. Poor little bub getting sick though, sorry to hear that. :(

karen said...

Hey Kristy, I think I would have taken him over to Amy's for a play date!

MommyLovesStilettos said...

LMAO that sounds like my son Cole.

Lift Like A Mom said...

Awww...poor little guy! Hope he feels better soon!

Wanderlust said...

That is a really funny description of the very ordinary yet head-exploding trials of parenthood. I hope he gets to feeling better soon! And yes, more wine please.

Cheryl said...

Does it make me a bad person because I laughed at this whole thing? Oh yes I did! It sounds like an ordinary day around here!

Jeannie, Jane, Angel, Mommy, etc.. said...

Do you live in our house?! That is how my little Monkey has been the past few days. I can't even look at her without her throwing an absolute fit! Ugh! Today has been better so let's hope for more days like today!

Diminishing Lucy said...

Oh you poor love. Drugs. I am not sure what over the counter kid remedies you have, but Childrens Neurofen is my best friend.

I hope he picks up soon....for your sake.

Jen said...

Oh I can so relate to this! I always feel guilty as they present themselves like this and those are the moments I do entertain thoughts of selling them on Ebay and am quite short with them and then BAM they go get get sick the next day and I feel terrible for not figuring out that's what was happening, you'd think after nearly7 years I'd have a clue ;) . I hope your little guy doesn't get too sick and you've had a reprieve from the crying (or got very tipsy so it didn't grind your ears any longer ;) )

kathryn said...

Aw, honey...I feel your pain. You've brought back so many (not-so) fond memories of my boys being in that exact moment of insanity.

Oh, wait. That was ME who was brought to the brink of insanity...they were just in a really sucky mood...

Oddyoddyo13 said...

Shocking how things can change from minute to minute! I cannot imagine that......Tons of luck. Mountains of it, even.

Mimi said...

Oh I remember those days!

I'm stopping by to welcome you to SITS!

alexis said...

we mothers always start off with the best intentions when it comes to nurturing our children. then the crap starts flying, boogers start dripping, and screams start piercing, and it's all we can do not to throw ourselves out the window. all this happens within about 10 minutes, so it's not a lot of time to prepare oneself.

anyway, just wanted to say i feel your pain.

happy sits saturday sharefest!

cheri said...

i think our kids are wired differently. my son wants to be cuddled all the time when he's sick. he wont sleep on the bed,he'd rather be cuddled. if i put him down, he wakes up and screams bloody hell. fun times *sigh*

from SITS :)

Unknown said...

Oh! I can so remember those days. My baby is ten now. He still gets very cuddly and 'cheerful' right before he gets sick.

Unknown said...

Aw... sending you wine wishes and silent dreams. Hang in there!!!