Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Stress and Illness

DD2 got her braces off yesterday-yeah, but missed two full morning class hours for the process. I didn't realize she was feeling a bit tired and achy, and by the time I was home from work, she was in bed, sicker than I have seen her in a long time-much worse than last Wednesday when she missed school, and though not throwing up as she did at Christmas, her temperature soared past 102, and didn't come down last night with Tylenol. It's at about 100.4 now, so some improvement. She is very stressed because she is going to have to miss her orchestra concert tonight, a presentation with a group project, and a math test, and was already scheduled to be out on Thursday for the state honors choir event. We knew this weeks was going to be a bear, but now the poor thing is battling illness as well. 

It's a double edge sword with kids, high achiever kids in particular, with school.  On one hand, of course the school preaches leave kids home if they have any of the things on a list for exclusion. Simultaneously preaching that children should not be absent from school, and give minimal amount of time to make up missed work. Friday is a teachers work shop day, so no school. I'm hoping she can perhaps get tests made up, and any other items so that she isn't spending the entire weekend playing catch-up. I also hope her orchestra teacher has an option for picking up the points she misses tonight. It would be awfully unfair, and create more stress for her, if she is penalized for missing school when so very ill. Last Week I let her stay home alone because while she was feeling lousy, she wasn't feverish, and wasn't dehydrated. Today, I'm working from home so I can make sure she doses up every four hours on fever reducers, and drinks massive amounts of Gatorade. With luck, this will be a 24 hour bug.

18 comments:

  1. Do hope she picks up soon Sam.
    Arilx

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    1. Thanks Aril. Fever broke, so going to try and wean off the meds

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  2. Sounds like she might be run down. When the kids were little we ended up limiting their activities as things just got out of control (plus they went back and forth between 2 households and there were 4 of them) I hope she gets better soon!

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    1. It just is a very busy week, and she has more than usual stacking up, so timing couldn't bre worse. I think the freeze thaw is horrendous for germs and viruses.

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  3. Oh no your poor daughter! And, I agree about the double edged sword! Here's to hoping she feels better soon and the teachers are flexible with her making things up!!!

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    1. We've been happy with her teachers, and no one would really want sick children carrying stuff to the rest. It's early in the semester, so crossing fingers this is her big and only illness for the year.

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  4. Ah. Maybe there's the silver lining in the case of my non-achieving, yet capable student.
    Hope she gets better soon. I remember those days from my own h.s. years. The pressure I put on myself only made things worse. College was ever so much easier, it seemed. You hang in there too!

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    1. We heard back from her orchestra teacher-very kind get well message, and that made her feel much less stressed, though still disappointed to not play tonight. With the fever broke, hopefully she can go online and see what she missed.

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  5. I remember those days with Kazi and concert choir and endless tests and assignments - it really is stressful isn't it? I hope your daughter feels better very soon!

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    1. Tomorrow is the honors choir, and I just spoke with her (Dad has been in charge today) and she sounds horrible still. At least she has an appetite again,but I'll take her temp once home. It will take her whole four day weekend to get a handle on her missing homework, and then all next week she will have late nights I am sure. You understand the cycle from what Kazi went through.

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  6. I completely understand about your overachieving daughter. My daughter just recently missed 3 consecutive days of school, and also there was a miscommunication with one of her AP teachers about when she could make up a test she had missed. Her end of semester grade plummeted from an A to D within a matter of a couple days! This is a first for her, as she has always been a straight A student her entire academic life. She is a senior and is stressed that this will lessen her chances of getting into the universities she has applied to.

    I hope your daughter feels better soon, that's the most important thing! I wish I knew a way to get them (our overachievers) to not stress so much about school. I think all we can do is ensure their home life is as tranquil as possible - a soft place to land :)

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    1. That is exactly what she is afraid of. She had one B+, with 7 A's, and was horribly disappointed with her GPA last semester, still in the top 13% of her class, and all AP/honors classes for the subjects that offer them. I couldn't handle her load when I was that age and try to just reassure her that she will get caught up, and she has to take care of herself first. .

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  7. Oh the poor kid! My 17 yo daughter some times just needs a nap so she asks that I'll schedule an "appt" for her for a couple hours just so she can come home and sleep. She can't afford to miss out on the evening school events too. If she came home sick, she wouldn't be able to go back.
    dang.

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    1. I thought of your Meri and how busy she is as well. I never thought of that, however, her school requires a "receipt" if they leave school for an appointment.

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  8. I hope that a day or so of rest has helped - let us know how she's feeling. Jx

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    1. She missed all her Monday evening activities, all day Tuesday, all day Wednesday, and is trying to mike the honors day today. I have my phone close, and if she can't, I told her to call and I would come get her immediately.

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  9. I'm sorry to hear that DD2 has been ill. I hope she manages to catch up without stressing herself further; it can become a vicious circle ☹

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    1. She missed her Honors choir day yesterday, and that was hard on her. She worked so hard to audition and be chosen. She knew she wouldn't be able to make the day of rehearsal and get through the concert without being ill, and getting others ill in the process.

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