School Policy Can Bite Me

Josh came to me at small o'clock in the morning and said "Mom, I threw up." In my incoherent state I said "take a trash can to bed with you." And then I rolled over and went right back to sleep.

It never once crossed my sleep deprived mind that there was a mess for me to clean up. And sure enough there was. When I got up in the morning there were two huge spots of regurgitated splat and it was not any prettier for having sat for several hours. Oh, the joys of parenting.

(You know, there was once a day when these words would have made me sit straight up in bed, then bolt for the door with rag and cleaning solution already in hand. Even though I got rest this past weekend, I am still so sleep deprived that the statement just plain didn't register. What is becoming of me?!)

With the light of day helping my brain to function, I realized that I was faced with another dilemma. Our kids have missed so much school this year that they can no longer be absent without a doctor's note declaring that they were indeed sick. We're such hooky players, you know. I mean, there was that one vacation we took. But it isn't like we haven't bravely battled strep, chicken pox, and the flu most of 2008.

So now I will be The Mom On The Bad List. Because I'll be darned if I take a kid to the doctor for the stomach flu. I know that I'll be told "it's just the stomach flu, take him home and let him rest." And I'll have wasted the doctor's time, my time and more importantly my gas money running in there. I just plain refuse to do it. And yet a note from me explaining that he's launching his lunch all over the house is somehow unacceptable now that he's missed so much school.

I have a plan. I will use the Note From Mom to catch his next launch. Maybe they just need a visual to prove that he's really sick. I'd take that over a doctor's statement any day, wouldn't you?

20 comments:

Kari said...

A Dr's note what kind of crap is that. Maybe you could send him in and let him have his next launch in their presence. Maybe then they won't be requiring any note from anyone ;)
Hope he is feeling better soon!!

Flea said...

As much as I love not home schooling, I hate this aspect of school. Good luck with the Dr. Mom note. Wasn't that a Robitussin commercial, Dr. Mom?

Andrea said...

I don't understand why a doctors note is more important than a note from mom. I think our school just wants a note. I don't think they really care who it's from. But then again I could be totally wrong. Growing up it always had to be a Dr. note for the absence to be excused. I hope the little guy feels better!! Yuck!

Unknown said...

At the parent's meeting for our son who's entering high school next year, they informed us of this rule. Three absents and you have to have a doctor's note. How ridiculous. I wish I knew a doctor who could just write up a ton of these for me in advance! Good luck!

Be well - Sniz

Burgh Baby said...

How twisted is it that with daycare, they'll do whatever they can to make you keep your kid at home. Once they hit school, though, you suck if you so much as consider keeping your kid home for a fever or a little barf.

Anonymous said...

dr's note? for silly. these are YOUR kids. and i'm with you, going to the dr. for the flu is a waste - and your dr. will make you feel just that with the "what are you wasting my time for" look... moms just can't win!

Beth from the Funny Farm said...

I'm so sorry the child is sick. Uuggh! The flu shot worked for us this year.

Pam said...

yeah....I prefer when sick kids stay home. I know the schools have rules but I don't like the germs in my classroom. Good for you for keeping him home!

imbeingheldhostage said...

Nothing wrong with being "the bad mom"-- you know, the one that does what's best for her kids and considers the other kids as well-- maybe you'll set a precedent and they'll remove these stupid policies.

Hope you're all well soon!

Jennifer said...

Does your doctor love you enough to write you a note saying that he was sick? I know I will call mine and tell them that so and so was sick, throwing up, but is better now, but I need a Dr note for school, could they fax the school one, and they do it for me, no problem. But thats why I love my Dr, LOL.

About the throw up statement not registering. By sending him to bed with a trash can, you are still a better mom than I am. How many times have I said one of the following...
~Wake Jordan up and tell her to clean it up.
~Your ok, you are just dreaming. I want to go back to dreaming too, so go sleep with Jordan.
~flip the mattress over and sleep on the other side.
~No you can't sleep with me, you threw up, and I don't want you to throw up in my bed. Go sleep in the hallway, or on my floor, or with Jordan.

Poor Jordan. When mommy is asleep and doesn't know what she is saying, she gets it all. And I don't remember saying these things until someone reminds me in the morning. But I guess Jordan has stopped getting up, becuase in the morning now, the kids will tell me that I told them to go to Jordan, but she wouldn't wake up, so they cleaned it up themselves. Poor Kids. Thats what happens when it is 4AM and mommy just went to bed at 3AM. She has no clue what she says. LOL

~Jennifer

Kellan said...

I'm sorry Josh is feeling sick - poor guy. I agree - I do not find it necessary to take kids to the doctor for stomach flu - nope!

Nice to see you today - I've missed you. Take care - Kellan

Madame Queen said...

You should have just taken a picture of the splat, alongside a copy of today's paper (to prove it was today and not some random splat) and sent that in.

I hope he doesn't have it as bad as Punkin did. And that nobody else in your house gets it!

Don Mills Diva said...

I like the above suggestion - a picture of the vomit with the paper - that oughta make them reconsider the doctors's note policy!

Anonymous said...

You can always put a little in the ziploc and staple that to your note? I think that might suffice?

just jamie said...

Okay, I LOVE anglophile....'s comment. Perfect. Or, forgery perhaps? Doctors do have a sloppy way about their handwriting that could *some*how end up looking strikingly like yours.

Debbie @ Three Weddings said...

And we wonder why health insurance is so high these days. I say send him to school and let him puke on his teacher. They can clean it up and then you don't need the doctor's note because they sent him home. Ok, so that's not so nice to do to your son, but it serves them right!

Unknown said...

I have never understood why schools need a reason other than I am his/her parent adn I said it is okay for my kid to miss school. They are my kids adn if I want to keep them home than gosh darnit I am going too!!!! (Okay I am off my soapbox now)

I think a picture or a little sample in a jar shoud just about cover it. :)

Wineplz said...

from one mom who had to clean hours-old puke off the floor (and bed and bed clothes) this morning, I say go with the pic of the puke with the paper and your note. Crazy to go to the doctor for some puke. I really hope it doesn't tear through your house like it did ours. :)

Karen said...

Beth - My husband has given me the lecture about not getting the flu shots. I'm thinking next year I'll listen to him.

Strangely, our school also requires a note if your child is sent home sick. They're missing school, after all. Luke was sent home Friday with pink eye, I ran him to the doctor, and then failed to medicate him all weekend. It cleared up on it's own. Wasn't pink eye! And he was sent home.

Stupid school.

caramama said...

I like madame queen's idea with the pic of puke and newspaper!

You guys really have had a tough year. I hope this clears quickly!