It’s been half term this week for us. That usually means a delightful week off, a rest and some fun with my kiddos.
But this week my children were sick. We went away to stay at a hotel at the beginning of the week. It was the first time we’ve been away just the three of us and I hoped this would be the first of many fun holidays together. However, it was an almighty disaster. It’s hard to say whether the lowest point was when Freddie projectile vomited all over my bed in the hotel, or when the children sobbed the entire way home because we’d left the holiday early while holding old tissue tubs as sick buckets, (pictured) or when I cried because it was Valentine’s Day and I missed Andrew and I was drowning in illness rather than roses!
The next day I took both the boys to the doctor because they’d both been unwell for a long time and weren’t getting better. Joel was feeling too unwell to sit up, but Freddie was suddenly feeling energised by the trip.
“Will everyone die mummy?” He asked me loudly in the waiting room.
“Yes, Freddie, everyone will die, but most people don’t die until they’re very old.” I replied.
He started to look round the waiting room. It was only us and one rather elderly chap.
Freddie looked at him directly in the face and said “So, will he die very soon mummy?”
I was cringing in my seat as the man raised an eyebrow. “Let’s hope not” I replied through gritted teeth. Freddie then pointed directly at the man (in an incredibly unsubtle manner) and said “When he dies soon, do you think he’ll go to heaven?’
Perhaps I should have started telling the man the good news of the gospel and genuinely inquiring if he thought he would go to heaven but instead I said under my breath ‘’Let’s hope so. Now be quiet Freddie.”
There was a very brief interlude of silence until a different man walked through the waiting room with a plaster where his nose should be, but he didn’t appear to have a nose. I knew it was coming and Freddie didn’t disappoint “Look look, look at that man mummy!! He has no nose!!” I looked the other way and avoided the stare of the no-nosed man.
Next Freddie asked:
‘Will the chairs go to heaven mummy?’
I replied “No Freddie, chairs aren’t alive so they can’t die.”
He was irritated by this and started to shout loudly “Aww, I really really want all the chairs to die!”
“Why’s that Freddie, do you not like these chairs?” I asked.
He said “No it’s not that, I just really wanted a seat in heaven!”
I laughed. Even the old man chuckled. I reckon the man with no nose would have laughed if he’d heard.
The doctor diagnosed two ear infections (Joel had perforated his ear drum which is why he was particularly distressed.)
I’ve spent most of the week watching tv with the boys while they recover. There has been a lot of whining and crying and illness - All in all a pretty wick half term. But that little conversation made me laugh several times this week. There’s always joy to found.
I reckon Freddie needn’t worry, I suspect there are plenty of very comfy chairs in heaven!
Over and out,
Ruth
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