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Simone got sick for the very first time when she turned 18 months old last week.
It’s definitely a product of COVID times that she’s never been sick before then. How would she possibly get sick? She saw such a small number of people ever - there was no opportunity.
No people. No germs.
Last month, all that changed in one big moment known as preschool.
Many new friends. Many new germs.
Simone’s wonderful school has a long list of health precautions and especially COVID precautions, but it’s true what everyone says: preschools and daycares are hotbeds for getting sick. Suddenly, your kid becomes a snot hydrant and you do, too.
Anyway, we’re all feeling it over here.
Simone’s school was closed for a few days, in which she was absolutely fine. Not a sniffle! As the school reopened, what started out with a runny nose became a call home (the call of dread): Simone had a fever, and we needed to pick her up.
Our poor, brave little girl who is usually never still for one second spent much of the weekend nuzzled in our arms, hot to the touch, half asleep, and feeling pretty much awful. I lost feeling in my legs because I didn’t want to disturb her.
Mostly, I understand being sick is something that happens to everyone, but still I worried.
She wouldn’t eat, or drink, or lift her head from my shoulder.
Her forehead was hot. Her feet were hot. Her belly was hot.
We watched a lot of Peppa Pig.
We want to the doctor.
We went for a COVID test. We went for another COVID test.
Yesterday, she came back to herself and I felt this sweet, cool surge of relief.
We walked down the street and smelled the flowers. She held my hand. She ate some cheese and a clementine. She threw a small pumpkin at me.
She will be sick again, but tonight she is sleeping with her arms stretched upward and she is on the mend. Her baby brother or sister is kicking my ribs. We are very exhausted, and very loved.
PS This week I wrote about balsamic vinegar and sea salt for Saveur, plus taking parental leave as a freelancer over at Parent Co.