PeacefulChaos Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 I'm sure there have been threads on this before. DS5 has had a fever since 2am Thursday morning. We didn't do school Thursday or Friday. I had told them over the weekend that we would have school today, fever or not. So after another long night of him waking up coughing (and DD has a fever now, too, so she woke up a couple times, as well) we got up and got a late start on school - like 10/1030. (Which, actually, isn't all that incredibly late for us, really...):leaving: Anyway, DS7 was happy to get back to school work, but DS5 had a horrible time of it. :glare: So much of it is over-dramatizing, all he has is a fever and some congestion/coughing - he'll be playing fine and acting ok and then as soon as we give him something to do that he DOESN'T want to do, he turns into this crying, whiny, overdramatic mess. It's very frustrating. Anyway, we got through most of the morning stuff - OPG, he practiced his piano, he read some, did some handwriting, and most of his math (lesson, etc). He didn't do his math worksheet for today, because he took so much time whining and complaining that there wasn't time to do it before lunch. So after lunch, I was so fed up with the whole thing that we just skipped science, Bible, and reading. I hate to do it. Hopefully tomorrow will be better, but judging from the last few days I have NO idea when it will end! :confused: And I don't know if I should just not even bother because it is such a hassle. But at the same time, I don't like the idea of everyone just sitting around doing nothing just because one kid might not feel 100%. :glare: As it is, I know we'll be taking time off in the next week or two because we have family coming to visit for probably a week or a little more. Anyway, I guess this was basically a big rant. I'm not used to the kids getting sick like this - it may happen once in awhile, and I don't know if its his personality or what, but him being sick is draining. Just the crying and the whining and the waking everyone up...I guess it particularly bugs me, because I'm not one of those 'rest, you're not feeling well' type people - especially if it goes on for so long. I know that may make me sound like a terrible person, don't get me wrong, I want him to actually feel better. Should I feel bad if we just skip school until he's better? What do you do when one is sick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3littles Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 (edited) Well, my frustration tolerance is lower when I'm sick. So even if some things are going smoothly, I guess I wouldn't find it shocking if there were complaints about stuff they didn't want to do. We do school if kids have sniffles and coughs and I think they are otherwise fine (assuming they are pretty "with it" mentally and physically). Fever and head pounding? I'd let it up to them and if they had a fever, I'd assume they would say no. "School" might be lots of read alouds and a science themed movie or two that day. IMO, there is nothing wrong with that. WHen I am super congested and my head hurts, I'm pretty miserable. When I have a fever, I'm not feeling my best. I might be able to muddle through many things, but I don't want to. So no, I personally wouldn't make a child with a fever "do school" if I didn't think they were feeling up to it. Edited November 7, 2011 by Momof3littles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amyco Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 I am sorry your son is sick! A fever means his body is using lots of energy to fight something--which is energy he can't use for school. He may look normal and fine when he's playing, but that typically won't require the same mental effort. And really, even if was willing to do school with a fever, I would not expect him to perform well. I agree, it is a drag to have to skip school because he has a fever, or when anyone is too sick for school. I approach it this way: if he would be too sick to go to public school, he's too sick for homeschool. If the school notices a child has a fever, he has to go home right away. So I do not make my child do school when he is sick--especially with a fever. There are other activities you can do...maybe a puzzle, educational videos, crafts, etc. Or you could be like my own mother...who told me that if I was too sick to go to school, I was too sick to do anything but stay in bed all day! I'm a little more lenient with my children. :) I hope he feels better soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy22alyns Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 We rarely get sick, but usually have something every fall or winter. If the girls are running a fever, I don't make them do anything. If it's just sniffles or a cough, they're out of luck! I try to tough it out if I feel sick, but sometimes I lose my voice and it's awfully hard to teach with no voice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Fever means no work. Cold does mean work but maybe a bit less to give more time to rest. My sickness shouldn't mean hardly any less work but my last one is my laziest one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricket Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 I am sorry your son is sick! A fever means his body is using lots of energy to fight something--which is energy he can't use for school. He may look normal and fine when he's playing, but that typically won't require the same mental effort. And really, even if was willing to do school with a fever, I would not expect him to perform well. I agree, it is a drag to have to skip school because he has a fever, or when anyone is too sick for school. I approach it this way: if he would be too sick to go to public school, he's too sick for homeschool. If the school notices a child has a fever, he has to go home right away. So I do not make my child do school when he is sick--especially with a fever. There are other activities you can do...maybe a puzzle, educational videos, crafts, etc. Or you could be like my own mother...who told me that if I was too sick to go to school, I was too sick to do anything but stay in bed all day! I'm a little more lenient with my children. :) I hope he feels better soon! :iagree: When I have a fever, I usually feel miserable and only want to stay in bed and sleep, maybe read. Especially for dc as young as yours, OP, I'd opt for an educational video, maybe a read aloud. Who wants to do math when they feel sick? :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Fever means sick enough to stay in bed - so no school. the body needs time to rest (and nothing great will get done anyway) Fever free but still recovering means light school: reading, audio books/lectures, documentaries. Healthy sibling has school even if sibling is sick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassoonaroo Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 When someone is sick, I consider HOW sick. A cold? We press on but might cancel something outside of home if the child is snotty and sneezy and might tick people off by being contagious near them. Fever? Well, since that often makes me feel lousy, I often allow the child to choose what he is up for: sleeping, reading, doodling around with crayons, watching a video (my choice!) and sometimes if nobody needs the laptop (aka "Mom's computer") the child can have an hour doing educational games at funbrain or shepherds. Throwing up? Ugh -- I ask nothing of the child than to use all his energy to attempt to make it to the toilet. If I don't feel well, I try to find independent stuff for them to do (workbooks, videos, etc.) and I just don't push it. Having older kids, if one child is sick, we usually press on without that child, skipping any read alouds that we have going until the child is up for joining us for that (and, honestly, most of the time, a child is good for listening some). We might even read an extra long time if the child is up for reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twoforjoy Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Depends on how sick. Usually if my DS is really sick, he just kind of curls up in a ball on the couch and wants to sleep all day. I let him. If he's sniffly or coughing or kind of complain-y but seems capable of doing stuff, we'll do school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxbridgeacademy Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 In our house fever=no work. If you really feel the need to get back to it, youcould try reading to him, talking about add/sub or whatever he's working on. Cuddle up and tell him a silly story about colors, shapes and numbers. Otherwise I'd just let them lay around and veg on PBS/Nick Jr for another day or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkacademy Posted November 7, 2011 Share Posted November 7, 2011 Fever pretty much means bed here! I would also be worrying over the fact he has had this fever for days, have you called the doc? That could be a sign of an infection. My oldest never had pain with her ears but we knew if she had a fever she had to go to the doc. I let her go a few days as a toddler with a fever and her ear drum ruptured. Never once did her ear bother her. If we have a fever for more than a day they go to the doctor. Fevers scare me too death when I cannot get them under control especially in one so young. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetMissMagnolia Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 If I"m sick it depends how bad I feel.....if kiddo's sick probably not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthwestMom Posted November 8, 2011 Share Posted November 8, 2011 I do not expect anyone with a fever to work, however, I'm in a state that does not require documented days of work. Sometimes I will have them watch something educational on TV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeacefulChaos Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share Posted November 8, 2011 Thanks everyone, I don't feel too bad, now, for 'slacking off' on the schoolwork since he's been under the weather. :) His fever is (I think) finally gone today, on day 6! DD is just on day 2, so it'll probably still be awhile for her... doctor said lungs are clear, ears fine, etc, so no pneumonia or anything. Just a virus to wait out. Thanks again! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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