#it feels like everybody in my nursing class uses it to sum up texts we get or answer questions

[mille-at-home]

School days & A&E.

On my way back from work on Friday I had a lovely phone call from Cory’s head of year to say he had been issued ‘a card’ for exceptional effort and above and beyond grade for his maths. ‘Please give him support and praise at home’ goes without saying that we were very proud and did just that, Cory was even happier when I hinted that maybe that game he was after could be on the way if he keeps it up. (He doesn’t ask for much) Anyway, on Monday I had a few missed calls and texts from a distressed and rather upset Cory to say he was on report - for effort? It turns out he was just called to the Hub and put on report as his effort levels were below average. This goes on effort AND attendance, his orthodontics and physiotherapy sessions have required a morning or afternoon out of school which counts as a whole day?! I try my best to get them out of school hours but he doesn’t like Erin to be at these sessions with him because….well I’m not sure why, just sibling privacy I guess?! So it is not the easiest task in the world for me to arrange for the most part, I take what I am given.

Cory was completely demotivated and pretty angry that he has been moved down on the display board in the school hall, to the bottom 28 in his year for effort and although I rang to find out what was going on, I had no return call so Richie got on the case. It transpires that the same teacher who gave him praise on Friday did some sums over the weekend (possibly after a bottle of wine) and although Cory is predicted A - A* in his core subjects there are some subjects like cultural beliefs (don’t get me started) and PE that he is cruising at a B and could do better?! I kid you not?! We are all for giving a kick up the bum but heck, what an arse about face way of doing it and to top it all after telling Richie ‘what an intelligent boy’ he is, they didn’t actually think to talk and explain to Cory why he was on report?! So I have had a very moody, upset and downright low teen in the house for two days which only lifted last night after I fed it lots of food and made pancakes with chocolate spread on top! Hats off to Richie though, I can’t moan I have been dealing with this - Dad is on the case! (Insert smiley emoji) Meanwhile I may write and ask the school if they could have a polite word with the NHS about booking all appointments out of school hours - just for their bloody 'attendance records’ I reckon that should work eh?!

It’s a good job I don’t really have a real job because this struggle is real guys, it really is. Whilst I was trying to sort this mess and Cory’s tears out yesterday I also had to get Erin and x3 other girls to a very important football match after school. The girls team are getting pretty strong and although Erin hates being in goal, she is damn good at it. She was supposed to be striker this week but the goalie went sick, Erin steps in; albeit a little disappointed she saved a great shot which resulted in a tinge of pain last night and more this morning. Mum being the bad mum that she is, ponders the theatre schools great teaching at times as I genuinely can’t tell real from drama. I decide drama as I have much to do and put a support bandage on to make her feel fussed and send her to school as usual after having a word with the class teacher we agree strategy of fuss and it will pass. 11.45am I am mid stair well gloss paint, when I get a call to take some pain relief in. I whip up to school armed with calpol (magic stuff) and a medicine spoon in my painting clothes and still feel a little like a good mum, a little guilty that I didn’t bring her home when I see the little tears starting but….I continue and finish said hall of gloss paint, change and boil the kettle for a coffee before pick up and karate. 2.15pm the school phone to say she seems in a lot of pain and maybe it needs further checks. 2.30pm and we are signed in to A&E. (Sorry, but it’s the only way to check for broken bones) Dare I say that is was very quiet? Probably four of us in the main waiting area and we were seen by triage, X-ray, back to minor injuries in 2 hours! The staff are all wonderful but Erin almost goes into meltdown when asked 'who do you live at home with?’ She looks at me with bottom lip quivering “Does Dad?” I just nod & nurse distracts her with a bone chart. I suspect nurse probably wanted to know more really! Lol All in all though it was pretty good going. If everybody is listening to the 'don’t go to A&E’ bit then I reckon the staffing and department could be halved in no time if today was anything to go by! No obvious break to wrist but it’s not clear so she has a splint and has to return next Friday. (Arghhhh another attendance black cross!) No sports for a month?!!! Erin is not happy!

I get home in time to say 'Hi’ to other child who is much happier with his '1’ scores (highest score) in every subject and teacher so far on report and that most teachers are asking why he is even on report - this has boosted his confidence. Phew…There is no way on this earth I can get to karate as its a half hour window to cook, eat and change - it’s not happening. I put the oven on for the Wednesday pizza, (it’s quick on training days and relieves my stress levels for the timing). I wanted too, but didn’t phone Richie earlier; you know for that sort of advice that I know I don’t really need but wanted the back up anyway - to check maybe that I was doing the right thing?! I knew he was away from his base at another base miles away, at one of those important 'leave the phone at the door’ sort of meetings but texted as soon as we were home. Of course he calls straight away, just whilst I have discovered that the dog who ate half a dinner yesterday and was obviously slow and poorly had in fact puked over the sofa! (I will not tell him off - he’s poorly) I leave Erin to tell him what happened whilst I clean up and put the pizza in.

We finally sit down to eat and whilst the children tuck into a rather lovely looking pizza and cheese stuffed crust thing I am attempting an omelette stuffed with mushrooms! Only in my haste to not let the pizza burn, my omelette is now cleverly disguised as scrambled egg and I forgot to put the mushrooms in! It’s also way too early for wine and I can’t do the 'syn’ the night before weigh in. Tonight I’m thinking chunky and funky is the way forward but…I will not be beaten!

Richie phones again later, presumably for a decent conversation with me but Cory picks up the phone first, doing some pretty amazing foreign accent 'Hello, Hello, this is Reylon from Windows Microsoft. Sir, can I tell you have a virus on your computer and I want all of your bank details so that I can scam for blah blah blah…..“ Erin and I honestly can’t breathe for laughing! He’s happy and blip over! Phew. Did Richie get a conversation with us tonight? Bah! I don’t think so!!

Happy Wednesday all…Mille xx