I arrive home early afternoon from running a few errands.
The phone rings.
Caller ID tells me it’s Big Brother’s school.
Me: nervously Hello?
Nurse: Hi this is the school nurse. Your son has been complaining of a stomach ache today. He came into the office early in the morning and again right now. I think he should be dismissed.
Me: Ok, I’ll be right there.
Fifteen or so minutes later Big Brother and I are climbing into the car outside his school.
Me: Honey, we have about 20 or so minutes before it’s time to pick up your brother. Is there anything you want to do or would you feel better just relaxing in the car?
BB: (innocently) Well…we could play mini golf?
Me: Hmmmm…. What? No. We can’t go play mini golf if your stomach hurts.
BB: Or we could do that jumping thing at the mall?
Me: No! We can’t go to the mall.
BB: Silence.
Me: Are you really sick, buddy? Or are we playing a little hooky?
BB: No, Mom, really. I’m really sick.
Twenty minutes later we park to pick up Little Brother. Just before getting out of the car, Big Brother asks…
BB: Mom? When we get home can I play some Wii before we go to swimming?
Me: BB, if you’re sick you aren’t going to go to swimming today. You can lie down and take a rest and try to feel better.
BB: WHAT?! But, I want to go to swimming! Starts to cry.
Me: You’re sick! I’m sorry, but you just can’t go to swim lessons.
Pause…
Sniffle. Collects himself.
BB: Hey, Mom?
Me: Yes?
BB: Can I go back to school now?
_____
Confessions of a Serial Swooper 
Ah, that is a familiar story, indeed.
LOL. Do they think we’re really that dumb?
You’re kind of a mean mom. If MY kid was sick the first thing I’d do is take him to Target for a little shopping and then we’d go for frozen yogurt and after that we’d take a trip to Disneyland.
Just sayin’.
HA!
Don’t you HATE when the school calls. I always think my kid broke her neck on the monkey bars. Or she broke someone else’s neck when she pushed him off.
Nurse called me too the other day b/c LB was in her office 2x for a stomach ache. First thing I asked was, “Does she have to poop?” Nope.
I said put her on the phone. “LB, do you have to poop?” No.
“Are you going to throw up?” No.
“You’re fine. Go back to class.” OK, Momma.
Nurse back on phone. “She’s fine. She wants to go back to class.”
You’ll get it right next time. 😉
I am a firm believer in “mental health days.” Of course, we take them at the beginning of the day, and everyone in the family knows that nobody is actually sick, but we play hookie anyway…
I’m pretty sure that should get me some sort of parenting award, although it won’t be the one for “Most responsible.”
I truly loved this story-Too cute. Loved the comments, too. So, did you let him go swimming?
I caved, yes. Sucker.
p.s. Our rule was always, “If you’re too sick for school, you should be in bed until 3:30pm. No tv, either. My kids were almost never sick. That said, I did give them each one day per year to take a Personal Day. They loved school so much that they never took them (until high school). 🙂
Good for you for sticking to your guns! Now he may think twice if he wants to try and get out of school just cuz.