August 09, 2005
Don't Spread It Around
Don't Spread It Around
There are many reasons not to tell your kids everything. You don't want them to worry. They might not understand, et cetera. However, the main reason not to tell your kids everything is that they can't keep their mouths shut.
Last week I had a urinary tract infection. It went from nothing to peeing blood in an hour or two, while I waited for a nurse to call me back. Once she called me back and got her to concede that bringing three children, the younger two of whom needed naps and the oldest bickering with the middle one, would not be good for business in an OB/GYN's office just so I could pee blood in a cup so they could tell me what I already knew -- that I had a UTI, she called in a prescription.
I could have waited for my husband to pick up the stuff on the way home, but as you can imagine, I was a bit antsy to get the analgesic and antibiotic. I collected the children, got them clothed and shod, and told them we were going to "the medicine store." Which naturally elicited questions of why.
I foolishly told them.
Later that night at dinner, The Girl wanted to say a prayer. It went something like this, "Holy Father, thankyouforourfood. Thank you for Mommy and Daddy, and The Baby and Hobbes and...[grudgingly] The Boy. Please help Mommy's girl parts get better. InJesus'nameAmen."
The whole truth and nothing but the truth. :)
Posted by: ben at August 9, 2005 09:16 AMWhat The Girl said--get better soon!
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at August 9, 2005 09:54 AMOur local paper did a story on this phenomenon. They interviewed teachers and put together some of the interesting things kids tell their teachers about their parents.
One of the most humorous was from a teacher who said that a girl in her class turned in a homework assignment that was well below her normal performance. The teacher asked why it was so bad and the girl said her mom hadn't been able to help because she had to rest on the sofa after having an operation. The teacher said she hoped it was nothing serious and the girl replied, "no it was just something daddy was to chicken to do."
Dittoes to what Terry said. Hopefully it will pass soon.
That can be a real challenge of parenting, balancing the need (and desire) to tell children the truth with being "discrete".
Posted by: MarcV at August 9, 2005 11:43 AM
I already have enough people on the prayer list so you can’t stay long. Thus you should get better real soon.
Thanks for all the get well wishes. Actually, Macrobid wiped this thing out in 3 days. I took my last dose yesterday. So, Jim, I'm already ready to get off the list. Thank goodness!
Posted by: Jordana at August 9, 2005 01:15 PMHow true! I loved it when my 3 year old son asked my wife in front of our friends if she shaved her arm-pits today, or if they had hair still. Precious memories for sure...
Posted by: Jason Berggren at August 9, 2005 01:58 PMHilarious post. Glad the UTI misery is a thing of the past ... happy drugs!
Posted by: Another Jordana at August 10, 2005 07:21 AMOh so glad to read you are feeling better, there is nothing more miserable.
And the prayer made me laugh. So cute.
Posted by: chris at August 10, 2005 07:36 AM=] That's not so bad. You know God understands! Really, it was a fairly delicate way of putting it. Much better than when she was commenting on your pregnant shape!
Posted by: Lenise at August 10, 2005 09:06 PM
Jordana Adams, Chief Pontificator