I would argue that the absolute last place on earth that a person would choose to be when sick would be a kindergarten classroom. Can I get an amen?  Miserable.  To wake up with a headache is to know that you will go home with a migraine.  I tried being straight with them:  ”Chicos, chicas… estoy enferma hoy.  Me duele la cabeza… favor de bajar sus voces hoy….(I’m sick today. My head hurts. Please keep your voices down.)”  What did I get in response?  Well, one kid, who understood me completely,  just started yelling, ”OH YOU MEAN TALK LIKE THIS?!?  ALL DAY LONG?!  REALLY LOUD?!”

Finally, late in the day today, I just covered my ears and said, “OKAY ¡no es respetuoso gritar a la maestra! (it is not respectful to yell at the teacher!)”  Of course – story of my life – half of the kids were just like “whaaa..?”  Luckily, my trustworthy Jimmy translated:  ”You shouldn’t yell at the boss!!”  How did this kid learn how to read my mind?

There’s just no way to turn the volume down.  Even when I turned on a movie for indoor recess, they are all talking. “THAT’S ME I’M MOWGLI”  ”NO I’M MOWGLI”  ”I’M THE GIRL”  ”I’M THE GIRL TOO” “I’M THE GIRL THREE”  ”I’M THE MEAN TIGER BECAUSE I BE MEAN TO MY SISTER”

All I can do sometimes is steal a handful of goldfish from the snack corner and try to breathe… which has been made more difficult by this ridiculous allergy/cold thing I have. I might be allergic to Oklahoma. Or to my kids.

I should be thanking my lucky stars I only have this…  my school’s current sickness menu is really quite impressive: the flu, fever, vomiting, intestinal worms, diarrhea, strep throat…  Did you see the part about the intestinal worms?