I Could See It Coming…

There’s a thing that as teachers we just know. It’s something we can almost sense when it’s coming. Today, I sensed it.

Yesterday, I had eaten some very spicy, leftover East Indian food. Delicious, but left a silent burn for hours later. It burned not only my mouth, but my throat, my nose, and my stomach too. Needless to say, I didn’t feel the greatest for most of the day, and had what felt like hot flashes for quite awhile. I even considered I might have heartburn, but drinking cold glasses of water seemed to help… for the most part.

This morning, I woke up, and I knew something was off. Knowing how I had felt the day before, I thought nothing of it, and assumed it would go away as I really got into my day. Now, my husband was very tired this morning, and asked if I would drive myself to work. I live literally a minute away from work, yet for some reason, I wanted him to drive. I didn’t say it at first, but I had this feeling that I needed him; the kind of need when you’re young and sick and all you want is your mom. This was totally out of character for me and I had the hardest time figuring out what it was coming from, except the fact that I knew as if it were black and white that I wanted him to go with me and drive me to work.

He did get up and drive me to work, that blessed man I married. He will probably never understand how much it meant to me for such a simple act on a morning like today. Of course, arriving at work, I walked in with my usual “business-like” attitude, ready to dig in, ignoring the signs.

As teacher’s worship began, I figured my problem was that I needed to eat. Simple enough. But at the end of worship, my deepest fears were met. That 4-letter word I had been pushing out of my head… sick.

A review that 2 staff/teachers had been sick to their stomachs on the weekend. A report that 3 of our teachers were out for the day with the stomach flu, one not returning for the whole week on Doctor’s orders. Some students had the stomach flu and were not coming in. And the advice? Make sure you and your students wash your hands.

Do I need to say what I was thinking at that moment in time? “Just GREAT! This is what I need.” It really is that impeding doom. That feeling of knowing that your colleagues are dropping like flies, and you see it coming straight for your door. And it didn’t get any easier.

As I was teaching, my energy wavered. There are times I felt like it was all I could do to just make it through the lesson. The wishy-washy feeling of my stomach kept me alert for garbage cans all day, though I thankfully have not yet had to use one. The only moments of relief I felt were standing outside during recess with my students, the air crisp and cool which felt so nice being breathed deep into my lungs. But sitting in a classroom, teaching, disciplining, dealing with situations, all of these things I am required to do on a daily basis, were not easy. I was never more thankful for my husband to come rescue me at 4:05, the soonest I can leave the school.

And so here I am. I came home and went straight to bed, hoping to sleep it off. My husband went to the gym without me, and stopped at Wal-Mart to get supplies and ginger ale, and to Tim Hortons to get me chicken noodle soup and a bun. Simple food, hopeful remedies, and praying to kick this thing before it truly captures me.

Teachers? I feel your pain. Nurses and doctors? I’m sure it’s similar. Anyone else that works with children? I respect you. To anyone that doesn’t understand, be thankful for your health. It’s never a good moment to experience those sickly and what may feel like, deadly moments.