In my defense

I sometimes feel like the kids' school views me as one of THOSE moms who sends her kids to school when I should keep them home sick. Certainly, I do not keep them out for every little sniffle -- I'd never go to work! But lately it seems that I've taken kids to school, assuring their teachers that they were faking their complaints, only to have them throw up or spike a high fever later in the day. But in my defense, this is why I do it.

Yesterday, at the dentist, Charlie started complaining that his stomach hurt. He was still complaining when we got to school, and I thought he looked pale. So I took him home (much to Joseph's distress - he threw a fit!). I made him some soup. He scarfed down the soup, a bowl of applesauce, 4 crackers, and a big plate of noodles. He chattered the whole time. Then somehow basketball came up and I told him he could not play basketball outside, because he was home sick. His answer? "But I'm not sick anymore. What can we do?"