Kids!

With seven kids, it doesn't take much to prompt memories of childhood illnesses.  Back in the dark ages, we did not get "Shots" for everything.  We had to tough it out with the Measles and the German Measles, and the Mumps and Chicken Pox.  Now kids get shots for all of these things.  I can remember having to be in a dark room with the Measles.  I lucked out with Chicken Pox.  They thought I had a couple of bug bites, ten or so until my brother and sister broke out everywhere with Chicken Pox.

The oldest of my kids got vaccines for Measles, Mumps and Rubella.  They did, however enjoy the itching of Chicken Pox.  "Mommy" got them first and handed them off to "Calvin" and "Mini Me".  The Blonde got them, but not too bad.  "Calvin" was certainly the worst.  The poor guy had Pox everywhere.  It did not take long to figure out that my kids handle illnesses differently.

"Mommy" does not do well at all.  She pretty much folds and gives up, crawling into bed and sleeping.  When she had her wisdom teeth taken out, you would have thought she was at death's door.  She had Lasik surgery not too long ago and fell asleep in a dark room wearing eye patches.  Of course her loving brothers did not hesitate to capture these moments photographically.  She rarely got sick to her stomach, oh wait, yes she did.  She got migraines as a grade schooler.  I can specifically remember cleaning stomach contents out of the vent in my car. 

"Calvin"  gave up in a different way.  As a little guy he would just lay somewhere, anywhere, often at my feet.  It was worse than having a puppy!  I would turn to walk across the room and trip over his limp little body wimpering at my feet.  When he got sick to his stomach, he just let it happen.  We made no effort to locate a bucket or bathroom. I distinctly remember a fountain once as he lay on his back.  This kid was no fun!!!!

"MiniMe" and the "Blonde"  were a little tougher, or maybe I was already becoming hardened to the circumstances.  The first two taught me to take action rather than wait for collateral damage.  By the time "Pook" came along, I was pretty tough myself.  I remember him in cast more than any of the others, but he always had a tough time convincing me that he was really hurt.  Maybe that is because he was so skilled at feigning injury/illness to avoid work. 

A flip switched by the time "The Surprise" arrived.  Suddenly I was a marshmallow when it came to my child not feeling well.  His older siblings complained violently about how much he got away with.  And although I hate to, I will admit to having let him take a few mental health days off when he was in high school.  These discussions usually prompt stories of my cruelty and sending the older kids to school with (according to them) no love and every disease known to man.

It is fun now to watch "Mommy" and "MiniMe" react to their kids when they get sick.  Just the other day, Max coughed and acted like death warmed over.  "MiniMe" sent her to school.  Enjoy these school days Moms.  You do get some peace and quiet when they head  out the door!  Have a great Momsense Monday!