Dear WTMs,
As I have mentioned before, the idea of "Trust but Verify" is a big part of my parenting philosophy. The phrase "Trust but Verify" was used by The Gipper, President Ronald Reagan, when talking about the evil Red empire of the Soviet Union.
President Reagan said that he TRUSTED them...But he did not trust blindly. He checked up on them.
I find this phrase helpful in parenting. As a youngest child of the family, I was able to weasel out of many things. As a former "weasel" child, I am a natural skeptic when it comes to Sick days for my kids.
My younger daughter is home sick today. She was up and down last night with an upset stomach and a bad headache. Gave her kid Tylenol and let her sleep on the couch downstairs. However, this AM, I tried to "break" her. Sure, she said she was sick----but I applied just a little pressure to the situation to see if it was a scam. Naturally, we lost the thermometer (again) so I could not check the fever. Dig if you will, my version of "Trust but Verify":
"Trust but Verify" Sick Day Treatment:
WTM: So...You're sick today? You don't feel any better this morning?
Miss Minnesota/Margarita: Yup.
WTM: You know if you miss school today, you can't go to SusieQ's house Tuesday for that playdate?
(Please note: I am not that harsh---this is a ploy to see just how sick she is)
Miss Minnesota/Margarita: I know, I don't care.
WTM: And you know you are going to have to stay in your room most of the day, no TV.
(Note: As if! Again, this is a tool to get the truth)
Miss Minnesota/Margarita: Yup.
Usually by the second or third question, the girls will either "break" and confess that they are not that sick OR if they don't, I can see that they really ARE sick. This ends the interrogation.
What do you guys do to determine "sick day health"? Would love some tips from other WTMs. They are smaller and younger and smarter than us.
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