Distressing time when your child is ill

I really wish that I could share something incredibly witty or profound, but sadly I cannot. I really wish that I could share something incredibly witty or profound this week, but sadly I cannot.
Jo WorganJo Worgan
Jo Worgan

The other weekend was a very quiet one in our house, as we had a poorly Tom. He was fine on Friday when he returned home from school, and although he wanted to go to bed a little early, I didn’t think anything of it as he sometimes does so when he has just gone back to school after a week’s holiday.

Anyway the wake up call at 4am should have alerted me to the fact something was not right. He did go back to bed though and came back in to us at 6am, he just snuggled into our bed and was very, very quiet. Oh no, I thought, something is most definitely brewing.

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This was confirmed when he didn’t ask for Cheerios. Tom ALWAYS asks for Cheerios, so when he doesn’t want them, you know he is unwell.

I’ll just add here that Tom is very rarely ill. He very rarely gets colds and hardly ever vomits. This is something I am eternally grateful for as vomiting for Tom is particularly distressing for him.

The thing is that it is really difficult to know how Tom is feeling, as he cannot tell us where he feels ill.

This is obviously distressing for him and frustrating for us. Anyway he spent the whole of Saturday alternating between lying on the couch, lying on me and nestling into my bed.

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Being ill does not really bother Tom, it is more the associated sensory issues that go with it.

Other nearly eight-year-olds can tell you they feel sick or will run to the bathroom or ask for a bowl etc., however, Tom is unable to do this. All I will say is vomit just happens, and this is what distresses him.

Anyway he is now feeling much better. He’s back to eating his Cheerios and asking for toast and banana, so all is good. I do know though that for other parents, when their child becomes ill, things can be very different.

Escalating temperatures which cannot be controlled, hospital visits and their child even regressing with their basic skills.

I am just glad I have my happy Tom back.