"It Could Be Worse."
Parenting is full of forced silver linings. They keep us from losing our minds.
My 12-year-old has been sick all week. Picked up a camp plague, as one does. But, like, he’s been really sick. Fever of 102 while on Advil and Tylenol. Headache. Sore throat. Terrible fatigue. No appetite. (As I write this, he has eaten two tortilla chips over the past 24 hours, and we’re on day four.) Diarrhea. Vomiting.
Two nights ago, I had the terrible realization that it could be mono. My 9-year-old had mono in April, and it was eternal and abominable, and I know that 1) people can shed the virus for months and 2) the incubation period is 4 to 6 weeks. So it was possible she’d infected him.
Panicked, I took my son to the pediatrician yesterday for a strep test, Covid test, and, of course, mono test.
They all came back negative.
I swear to god, I almost jumped with glee and hugged the pediatrician. I was beaming. It felt like THE BEST NEWS I HAD EVER GOTTEN.
I texted my friend
:
Omg did that make me laugh. And think. And decide to write this newsletter.