I feel like the richest, luckiest woman in Oakland County. Sure we are being held captive by a cruel Norovirus that EVERYone in the family is getting. And yeah, the beautiful snow has turned to stupid rain/ice/snow mix. Oh and there's the whole we live in a not-so-fancy rental house and we're always on the verge of being broke in a county that well, is mostly filled with nice homes and people with lots of money. But STILL I feel rich and lucky. Blame my dumb attitude on Charles Ingalls (yeah, Pa) in classic episodes of Little House On the Prairie and my amazing (albeit very germy) family.
A few days ago, I didn't feel lucky or rich. I felt pissed. I felt like I was dying. And so did Tim. In 12 years of parenting, he and I have never been sick at the same time. I mean sick where you-can't-get-out-of-my-bed-holy-shit-who-is-going-to-run-the-house-take-care-of-the-kids-call-the-school-let-the-dog-out-make-breakfast-and-lunch-and-dinner-and-what-the-hell-is-going-to-happen sick. He and I could not get out of bed.
"I guess we'll just take care of ourselfs," announced Wade with profound excitement.
I laid in bed so sick just kind of hoping they could take care of everything but not really having faith in their ability to stop bickering and eye-rolling. But then just like a Christmas miracle, or even better, a storyline from an episode of Little House on the Prairie, my kids rose up to the challenge.
Lucy made the little kids breakfast. She packed her bag for school and left on her own. Peyton was home sick already because of a previous bout with Pink Eye (otherwise known as Bob Costas disease in our house, yeah we've been watching a lot of Olympics around here). Peyton played with Wade and JT (because of course JT was home sick too), he made them lunch, he emptied the dishwasher AND loaded it, he separated the little boys when they started fighting, he took care of the dog. "Are you kidding me? I just sat down," I heard him say after one of the kids spilled their water, sounding frustrated but still getting him more water. Lucy came home from school and the older kids made dinner for each other. They even set up a tray for Tim and I, but we rose our heads up from our pillows in time to say thanks but no food, please no food.
Even though I felt like I was dying, my heart was bursting with pride and love. Yeah, it wasn't losing the wheat crop or the mill closing like in the Little House episodes. But it was tough times this week for us. And just like Laura, Mary, Carrie, Ma and Pa, we pulled together and took care of each other. Remember the episode where he the whole family has to work their asses off just to pay their debt to Mrs. Oleson and the whole town knows they are down on their luck and then Nels Oleson (good 'ol Nels) says "Charles, with a family like that, I think you are the richest man in Walnut Grove." I stood at the doorway looking at my amazing (abeit very germy) family and my chin quivered and I felt the just like Pa, with a family like mine, I felt like the richest, luckiest woman in Oakland County. Unlike Pa, I promptly ran to the bathroom to throw up.
My family isn't perfect (like the Ingalls), but in tough times I am so happy to know my kids can rise up and take care of each other, I know that for sure.
Here's what else I know for sure this week:
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| Photo Source |
A few days ago, I didn't feel lucky or rich. I felt pissed. I felt like I was dying. And so did Tim. In 12 years of parenting, he and I have never been sick at the same time. I mean sick where you-can't-get-out-of-my-bed-holy-shit-who-is-going-to-run-the-house-take-care-of-the-kids-call-the-school-let-the-dog-out-make-breakfast-and-lunch-and-dinner-and-what-the-hell-is-going-to-happen sick. He and I could not get out of bed.
"I guess we'll just take care of ourselfs," announced Wade with profound excitement.
I laid in bed so sick just kind of hoping they could take care of everything but not really having faith in their ability to stop bickering and eye-rolling. But then just like a Christmas miracle, or even better, a storyline from an episode of Little House on the Prairie, my kids rose up to the challenge.
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| This picture was taken in a rare everyone calmly getting along moment pre-sickness, back when we used to eat. |
Lucy made the little kids breakfast. She packed her bag for school and left on her own. Peyton was home sick already because of a previous bout with Pink Eye (otherwise known as Bob Costas disease in our house, yeah we've been watching a lot of Olympics around here). Peyton played with Wade and JT (because of course JT was home sick too), he made them lunch, he emptied the dishwasher AND loaded it, he separated the little boys when they started fighting, he took care of the dog. "Are you kidding me? I just sat down," I heard him say after one of the kids spilled their water, sounding frustrated but still getting him more water. Lucy came home from school and the older kids made dinner for each other. They even set up a tray for Tim and I, but we rose our heads up from our pillows in time to say thanks but no food, please no food.
Even though I felt like I was dying, my heart was bursting with pride and love. Yeah, it wasn't losing the wheat crop or the mill closing like in the Little House episodes. But it was tough times this week for us. And just like Laura, Mary, Carrie, Ma and Pa, we pulled together and took care of each other. Remember the episode where he the whole family has to work their asses off just to pay their debt to Mrs. Oleson and the whole town knows they are down on their luck and then Nels Oleson (good 'ol Nels) says "Charles, with a family like that, I think you are the richest man in Walnut Grove." I stood at the doorway looking at my amazing (abeit very germy) family and my chin quivered and I felt the just like Pa, with a family like mine, I felt like the richest, luckiest woman in Oakland County. Unlike Pa, I promptly ran to the bathroom to throw up.
My family isn't perfect (like the Ingalls), but in tough times I am so happy to know my kids can rise up and take care of each other, I know that for sure.
Here's what else I know for sure this week:
- We felt a lot better earlier in the week.
- Charles (Pa) on Little House on the Prairie was so wise. Check out some wisdom from the previously mentioned episode.
- Here's more proof of how fun we are when we are healthy. Check out our highlight reel.
- Listen to Your Mother Metro Detroit has a CAST and a local megaphone sponsor- Henry Ford Health System and it's sooo exciting. Click here to check out all the latest news.
- Jimmy Fallon killed it this week on Late Night. I was too sick to stay up and watch most nights, but loved the clips everywhere. This one was a favorite-
What do you know for sure (this week)? C'mon, we're friends, share what you know.
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"Are you kidding? I just say down." - that totally made me howl with laughter!
ReplyDeleteHow awesome that your children are at that stage where they can totally take care of themselves and each other. I would take an extra sick day in bed just for that. :)
Hope you're feeling better!
It totally made me laugh too. It is pretty nice (and free-ing) knowing that they can manage on their own a little bit now when they have to. And I am feeling better now, finally, thank goodness.
DeleteBeing sick sucks, and I can see going into panic mode if my husband and I were down for the count together. It is a good feeling knowing that your kids will rise to the occasion when they need to!
ReplyDelete"Are you kidding me? I just sat down." I say that EVERY DAY. What a good big brother.
ReplyDelete