Don't stand so close to me

When I taught school, every year, and I mean every year...there was a point I would get to where I couldn't talk...speechless...

When I watched an almost 10 year old child literally crawl under his desk and scream at the top of his lungs because he didn't want to do his work...I was speechless.

When a very large 4th grader came and purposefully stomped on my foot when I told him "my classroom- my rules"...speechless (sent that little bugger to the VP right away amd he wasnt allowed back in my room by the way)

When I had a student who came in crying on a standardized test day that her parents announced they were getting a divorce and sent her to school anyway, when I pulled out a paper from a 2nd grader's desk that proclaimed "Hannah Montana is hot!", when I found a huge dill pickle in a students desk after school, carefully saved after a lunch a few days before,....speechless.

I was also speechless once a year, every year, because of a horrible cold that caused laryngitus (I know I just slaughtered the spelling of that word but its too early to spell check). I can remember my first year teaching and it got so bad I was actually writing things on the board for my 4th graders to read. I was a little too naive and too nervous to ask to go home. At lunch time my AP asked me a question and I croaked out an audible whisper. He looked at me like I was crazy cakes and said "Go home." Once he found out I was writing directions to my students on the board all morning, he probably was speechless himself.

It kinda comes with the teaching territoy...sickness. it kinda goes hand in hand. Anyone going into the teaching profession has to understand they WILL be sick a few times a year due to children being ..well..gross sometimes. As I type this, wiping Addi's verry runny nose for the 14th time already this morning. (Don't worry...purell)

But I am posting this in response to an article I just read that I was appalled at and sorta agree with at the same time (are you speechless at this?...or just confused?)http://http//www.huffingtonpost.com/devon-corneal/sick-days_b_981244.html?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl10%7Csec1_lnk3%7C99920

This is the part where I'm sorta appalled at....

The author, Corneal, admits to while not sending her kid to school while vomiting, she would send him in with a cold, a mild fever, diarrhea (really??) and suspicion of stomach bugs. Because and I quote "don't kids' immune systems get stronger by being exposed to common illnesses?"

So the next time my preschooler comes home with a case of the runs, should I be sending thank you notes to the mom who decided to send her kid to school sick? (he's not sick now, by the way...so please dont think I am writing this passive aggressive note to anyone in particular)

Dear some other mom,

Just wanted to express my gratitude for taking the time out of your busy schedule by sending your sick kid to school and in return making my child's immune system a little stronger. I really have enjoyed the extra time I have spent with my son, cleaning up horrible bathroom messes, trips to the pharmacy, and the lack of sleep I have gotten due to his constant throwing up in the middle of the night.

P.S. My kid licked the envelope.

Love and lollipops,
Connor's mom



Okay.....the tiny point where I do agree...

So while I understand you cant keep your kid over every sniffle, every cough, cause if thats the case, Chaild and Family would be after you for keeping your kid out of school for like half the year. It honestly doesnt bother me when I see a kid who has a bit of a cold. Keep some tissues on you, cover your mouth please, go wash your hands please.

Back to where I disagree...

But there is a BIIIIG difference between a cold and a chesty-non stop cough,-my chest hurts-and I'm starting to gag due to all the coughing Im doing-kind of cold. And yes, I do (and I would confidently say the majority of teachers and mothers) mind when you decide to send your sick kid to school. You arent doing anyone a favor by sending a kid who has a fever, a horrible head cold, diarrhea, an anything else the author admitted to sending her child to school with.

So please, as we head into cold and flu season (whatever that is because I am convinced this is year long and not a season), if your kid is sick, like sick sick....keep them home, rest a day or two...and then get back into the swing of things. Keep your teachers and fellow students in mind. Because just as much as you are enjoying being up in the middle of the night with a child with a hacking cough and "mild fever," Ms. Corneal spending those, what did you say??? Oh "sweetest times..rocking him for hours when he's been really ill"...I'd personally rather spend sweet times with my child when he's happy and healthy. Thanks so much.