The Clinic

Isn't she pretty?

Last Tuesday my phone rang (I didn't hear it) and the nurse at the elementary school left a message.

Abbey had a headache and had been in the clinic 2x that day.

I pick her up from school and she comes bopping out, smiling from ear to ear.

I question her about how her day was and then ask about the visit to The Clinic.

She suddenly feels better....headache gone.

Wednesday- Joseph works from home. He takes a break to have lunch and we are watching Glee.

The phone rings, I know it's not the usual suspects because I've already talked to them.

I say to Joseph (half joking) "I bet it's the school nurse".

Sure enough. Abbey is in the clinic with itchy eyes. According to the nurse-"the whites of her eyes are fine but she has red circles around her eyes, could you come pick her up?!"

I'd like to stop here and say how on earth does a school nurse not know when a kid is making up ailments? I mean really you see kids all day. It doesn't take a genius. Send them back to class.

I pick her up and greet her in the office. I do my best to contain my frustration.

When she gets in the car I inform her that because she is "sick" she must spend the remainder of the day in her bedroom because the rest of us don't watch to catch her itchy eyes.

Suddenly her itchy eyes are gone.

After making her spend some time alone in her room, I crept upstairs to talk to her about school.

And it all comes pouring out. "Mom, I want to go to the smart school. I already know EVERYthing they are teaching me. I need to go to 1st grade. I don't like quiet time. I am not a baby, I don't need a nap. They (1st graders) read real books and I might actually learn something. Kindergarten is BORING!"

And that is the root of the problem. She's bored.

I am not claiming Abigail is gifted. But I do claim that she has a mother who did school with her all summer long out of fear of having the youngest kid (which she's not YAHOO) who doesn't know anything. There are kids in her class who can barely hold a pencil, that's the difference.

Basically my daughter is quite clever and to get out of quiet time she was feigning illness.

I spoke with the teacher and she was given strict orders that Abbey may not go to The Clinic unless she has blood coming out of her ears or she is vomiting. Ok not really but you get the point.

I love and adore my Abbey girl. And she makes me laugh. *bonus*

A few weeks back I had her conference and her teacher had such wonderful things to say about her. But the thing that made me feel most happy and proud of Abbey was that she said

"Abbey is a kind and sweet girl."

All I've ever wanted was for my children to be kind and loving to others.

My kids might not be quiet little church mouse children but they are polite, kind, and loving. As my sister inlaw would say "You don't plant peas and get corn".

I am truly grateful for my 3 sweet littles.

*And The Clinic is further proof that Abigail and Katherine (her cousin who is 8 days younger) were ripped from the same mold. Abbey fakes headaches to get out of school. Katherine has church throat so she can go home and hang with her Mom*