Poorliness

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that I like my children to be ill, but I'm sure most parents know and guiltily love that sense of calm that only comes when the little monkeys have fevers and shivers and are generally unwell and wobbly and too weak to do anything but sit on the couch with the telly on :) This is what it's like in our house today. Thomas had a super costume ready for World Book Day today, but he is too poorly to go to school, and so is very sad. I usually send them to school when they're a bit poorly, because we all know that the wee devils feel a lot better around about 9.07am when they know the bell's gone and the register's been done and it's too late to send them! (Thomas doesn't know it yet, but I will send him in for the afternoon the next time he tries that one!) But I did pack him off to school yesterday, and his teacher came out to see me at the end of the day and said she wouldn't expect to see him this morning!

So. It's guilt-free telly and lounging this morning. And isn't that just lovely? When they are ill everything stays where you put it, things don't mysteriously break all by themselves, nothing gets spilled, everything is quiet, everyone is kind to each other, no-one whines because they don't have the energy, and the day passes in blissful harmony and I always feel refreshed. It's like being in someone else's house for a day or so. Before Matthew was born we had a day when all four of us were very, very poorly. Kev and I just managed to scrape together enough energy to bring a mattress down into the living room, and we all collapsed on it, with duvets and pillows and blankets, and it was the best thing. It's a nice memory. It was good that we were all ill together really - I hate when the kids are ill and I think I've escaped it, but then I get struck down a couple of days later and I always get it the worst and the kids have to look after themselves because I can't move off the couch!

But I can enjoy these spells of tranquility, because I am acutely aware of how lucky my family is to only suffer from flu and tonsilitis and such. I'm thankful on these days that harmless germs are all we have to deal with and that there is nothing more serious to worry about in our little lives. My washing machine might be on the blink again, my dishwasher might be temperamental, my oven door might be shattered, and my living room carpet might be covered in paint where Matthew fancied praticising his creative skills, but we have a roof over our heads and we have our health, which is more than a lot of people have. How could I not be happy? :D