My iPhone might as well of sounded like a tornado siren this morning. I was not prepared for it. After only and hour and a half of sleep, it was not a welcome tone.
Ben was up coughing all night. All night. Around 3:00 a.m. I felt his forehead for fever and it felt normal, so I still hoped a trip to school the next day was on the schedule.
Not so much.
Fever reared it's head around 7:00 a.m. at which time I delivered the bad news. To everyone.
For Ben:
"I'm sorry buddy. I know you've been looking forward to the district-wide choir performance (scheduleD, of course, for tonight), but you aren't going to be able to go."
For Me:
"I'm sorry Terri...that productive day you had planned in spite of insomnia and a sick child is going to be chopped into segments. Good luck."
And the worst for last...for Belle:
"I'm sorry Belle, but your brother is sick and won't be going to school."
Silence. Stomping to her bedroom ensues. Mumbling under her breath is heard. Then she reappears.
"How come Ben always gets to stay home sick?"
"Because he's been sick."
"That's not fair."
"Why not?"
"Because he gets to stay home sick."
:::note the words 'get' and 'sick'::: Enough said. It's 8-year-old logic, people.
My sweet Ben says, "I'm sorry you have to go to school alone Shelby. I wish I was going, too. But I hope you have a good day and I'll see you when you get home."
Really? Did he once again just bow to her totally selfish behavior? Wasn't it enough when he got HER stickers last week when HE went to the doctor? When he bought her...with his own money...some Valentine's candy CVS had marked down when HE went to Minute Clinic to get a strep test?
Neon light! Red flag! Whatever you want to call it...his kind heart is actually telling her if you treat me like crap, I'll buy you stuff. NO MORE.
And her response to his sweet farewell as she left for school, you ask?
"ehhhhhhhhhhh....whatever."
"What? Isn't there something else you'd like to tell your brother?"
"Ummmmmmmmmm....I love you???" said ever-so disingenuously.
We get in the car and as luck (or what we like to call Instant Discipline from God) would have it, she opens the car door and slams her fingers between the door and a pillar next to the car.
"Owwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!"
"What happened?"
Crying. "I smashed my fingers!"
"Ehhhhhhhhh....whatever. Get in."
She stares at me knowing good-and-well where that last remark came from.
(Oh she was fine...quit judging!)
So I start in on Be Nice To Your Brother Lesson #32,405.
"You better watch how you treat him, Shelby. You're going to need him the rest of your life. Plus, he is really sick. Where's your heart?" Then trying to emphasize the point, I embelish. "You never know...you could come home and he could be in the hospital because he has pneumonia or something. You'd feel horrible."
She slowly turns her head toward me.
"Mom. Really?! He is NOT going to the hospital."
"You don't know that. You don't know everything."
"Well, I may not know everything, but it's highly unlikely."
Damnit. All I can hope for now is she is given guilt throughout the day at school. What? She needs to be nice to him!
Thankfully, her heart grew two sizes today and tonight...she made me proud.
And really, in the car she made me proud.
Yep...She totally called me on that. She basically said, "Woman...I am NOT falling for the drama. Take it elsewhere."
But tonight, as Ben's coughing started up again, she appeared in his doorway. Offering water. Offering a wet wash rag. Offering help. Offering love.
"Hey Ben. I DO love you, you know. Sorry about this morning."
"I know..." cough...cough...cough. "I love you, too." cough cough cough
She smiles and starts to walk out. Then, in true Shelby fashion, takes control. "Well...I bet I love you more!"
"I bet you do too." cough cough cough
SCORE ONE FOR THE BOY!
I love you with all I am, sweet Belle. But you had that one coming, my love. :)
I guess you're teaching him girls can be crazy, hot messes and he's starting to show you, love tolerates some things, but not everything.
Be nice. It really is easy.
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