Wicked Stepmother

Well, I’m officially a wicked stepmother.  I wouldn’t go pick up Austin from school.

I had called the school earlier to have him walk since I’m home with Rachel.  After school he calls me:

Austin:  Mom, why do you want me to walk home?

Beth:  Cuz I’m home.

Austin:  Well, can’t you just come get me?

Beth:  I can’t Austin.  I’m home because Rachel is sick.  I had to get her from school this morning.

Austin:  But my legs hurt and I don’t want to walk.  Can’t Lauren just keep an eye on her?

Beth:  Lauren is watching a movie at school for extra credit.  She won’t be home until 5:30.

Austin:   I don’t want to walk!

Beth:  Austin, you have two options.  One, you can walk home.  Two, you can ride the bus to Grandma’s.  But if you ride the bus to Grandma’s I’m not going to pick you up.

Austin:  Then who is going to get me.

Beth:  I don’t know Austin because I don’t want to take Rachel out of the house feeling like this.  Maybe Grandma can bring you home.

Austin:  Then, I’ll ride the bus.

I learned a long time ago that kids LOVE to twist things around to make themselves look right and the parent look like an ass.  So I called my mother-in-law to see if she would mind bringing Austin home and fill her in on what was going on.  We were about halfway through our conversation when Austin calls her.  She kept me on the phone while she chatted with him and I heard her say, “It’s not that she won’t come get you.  It’s that she can’t come get you.  Rachel is too sick to take out of the house and Lauren is not home.” 

Yep, the little bugger is trying to make me look evil.  So after I got off the phone with my mother-in-law I called Kevin.  I figured Austin had probably already called him and dissed me to him.  But he hadn’t.  I still let Kevin know what was up so he knew what was going on. 

Ugh, I hate to have to do that but I don’t think it will ever change or go away.  That is just how blended families operate.  Or maybe that is just how teens operate. 

Crash and Burn

Rachel didn’t make it.  I got a call at work at 10 from the school nurse.  Rachel was laying down in her office.  I hate that my office is 30 minutes away from the school.  I went a smidge over the speed limit to get to her.  She isn’t running the fever but her tummy is cramping.

I asked the school nurse about her symptoms.  She said that they have had a lot of kids out due to the stomach flu.  So that is what I’m declaring Rachel to have-the stomach flu!

Little Better

Rachel was feeling a little bit better this morning.  I would have kept her home because she had a low grade fever and a slight tummy ache.  But she hates to miss school.  And I mean HATES it!!  She promised she wouldn’t play soccer at recesses which is huge for her to say.  So I gave her some Motrin, lots of kisses and sent her on her way.  Then I emailed her teachers to let them know that she wasn’t 100% and could crash before the day is out.

I’m just hoping it’s a bug going around that is not related to chicken in any way