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Last night one of my kids came into our room saying he had a headache. We pulled him into bed with us, took his temperature, got him a wet wash cloth for his forehead. He fell asleep to our ministrations. This morning he woke up after everyone else. When Trav came downstairs, he curled up on the couch and started to watch the cartoons with my other kids. I asked him how he was doing, he didn't respond. I had a moment of inspiration. I turned off the cartoons. He looked at me... I looked at him. Then I got him some breakfast. No mention of a headache or being sick this morning. In fact, he's talking up a storm and playing.
My epiphany happened! I must allow my child to be bored so he wouldn't want to have a sick day! As an adult, I don't like sick days. They are boring, I hate laying in bed doing nothing. So instead I make myself get up and do something. (Unless I'm voiding my insides. There are limits.) Here's the thing, I believe if I had left the cartoons on, Trav would have pulled a sick day. He would have stayed on that couch all morning, milking the attention. Boredom can be a good thing, let your kids get bored! Maybe I wouldn't have given her a gold star at the time, but today I can say thanks mom. Maybe she did know what she was doing.
*Disclaimer: Obviously if your child is legitimately ill take them to a doctor. I'm not talking about neglect here, I'm talking about creating an atmosphere where your child would choose to be well over having a sick day.