Jinxed

I’ve brought this on myself. What was I THINKING writing a blog post called “Bad Things Come In Fours” and pondering what the next two bits of bad luck would be that would bring me up to six?

Husband texted yesterday afternoon to inform me that the youngest has chicken pox and is quarantined for the next five days. We’re taking the sick childminding in turns. He’s working from home today, I’ll work from home tomorrow. All playdates, netball gala attendances and other social activities have been cancelled.

I feel like a crap mother into the bargain. The little one wandered out of bed slightly late yesterday morning, said she wasn’t hungry and her neck hurt. Any mother worth their salt would have gone into a complete decline and panicked about menningoccal or something terrible like that. I just said: “Really? But you normally eat two crumpets and four Weetbox with honey and milk. Are you sure you don’t want anything?” and “You must have slept on your neck funny, get your dad to have a look when he comes downstairs”, then blithely dashed off to catch a bus.

Husband forced her to have a crumpet, examined the neck, which had two red lumps on it, and decided they were merely excema (poor child is COVERED in red marks all the time) and sent her to school.

It was only when he picked her up from school that afternoon that he realised she looked like a red and white dalmation and took her to the doctor.

Temperature. Chicken pox.

The eldest was startled to be suddenly ushered into the doctor’s surgery from the waiting room too and jabbed with a booster shot to up her immunity. Husband had to bribe her with a chocolate milkshake and the promise of a trip to the bookshop.

Sigh. Jinxed.

Although one upside of Husband being at home for two days is that he’s embarked on a brush turkey eradication plan, which involves spraying animal rid stuff everywhere. We also have loaded water pistols at the ready and, BONUS, the corner store sells spud guns. Rather than thinking “How dangerous, surely they’re illegal?” I grabbed one and rejoiced “Wacko! And only $4.99.”

The kids have been given strict instructions not to shoot at each other and have been practicing their aim on the BBQ instead.

*rubs hands together with glee*

Are you harbouring guilt over any kids’ illnesses you’ve failed to notice?