I mostly spend each day living in brief gulps from one moment to the next. In between tickle fights and time outs, I also sweat it out each day on the tightrope that is PPD and all its repercussions in my family, my health, my marriage and my sense of humor. Some days are good, some days only wish they could aspire to the high ranks of pond scum, but it's all part of my life. And it's all worth it.
A sweet and tasty treat- medicine?!
It’s dinner time and time for Silvia’s medicine. She’s on antibiotics for (yet another) ear infection. As I head to the medicine cabinet to do my duty, the begging starts in.
“I’m sick, too, Mom! I need my medicine! I need purple medicine, I have a fever and the coughs! I need medicine, TOO!”
A few nights ago, after an unprecedented cry-and-disaster-free dinner, I announced that since everyone had been so great, we would have dessert that night. We usually don’t, so the girls turned their bounce setting up to rocket-level at the imminent treat. And what did they start begging for?
“Can I have the purple medicine? Silvia wants the orange and I want the purple. Please?”
I am not making this stuff up. MY Tylenol does not come in a delicious cherry flavor, but I get by. Why, for the love of God, do they have to make medicine taste so alluring for children? I honestly think I would prefer having the kids moan when their dosing comes up rather than this constant onslaught of desire.
What happened to the good old days of cod liver oil and holding your child down in a wrestling hold to force a bitter brew down their throat? My children WANT to be sick. They PRETEND to be sick. Not for TV shows, or resting on the couch or wearing PJ’s all day.
They do it for the drugs. The delicious, jewel-toned drugs.
Trust me, holding them down to give them medicine is not a fun thing. Holding their mouth open while pinching their nose so they will swallow – this is not something you want to experience.
I am *so* irritated that they stopped making the tasty, magical Hytussin cough medicine and the only replacement is a foul, foul substitute.
Strawberry milk is a good replacement offer for the medicine – that syrup is super sweet. :)
Comment by Maida — May 28, 2009 @ 11:59 amI have to give Asher a lot of supplements, and I have to hold him down and force him to take it because it’s really gross. It’s not fun! It’s hard to find that happy medium!
Comment by Lea — May 28, 2009 @ 1:26 pmI’ve done the yucky meds, too, and it’s not fun but I worry that they’ll get a hold of it somehow and down the whole thing like a delicious margarita. I’d rather they not like it than seek it out when the candy is out of reach, you know?
Comment by Megan — May 28, 2009 @ 5:14 pmWhen DD was 4-6mo she loathed the syrupy ibu/Tylenol. I was disgusted at all of the sugar and dye if it wasn’t making administration any easier. A year later, it’s the easiest part of taking care of her. In fact, I’ve never given her a word for it, but refer to it as “yum-yum”—my generic word for food. It’s easier for her to understand than, “super sugared drug that makes mama feel a twinge of guilt but will likely keep her from wringing your little neck as long as it kicks in soon”.
Yeah, it’s been that kind of week.
Comment by Bekah — May 29, 2009 @ 8:23 pmI can sooo relate. My girls sneeze almost everytime the sun gets in their eyes. And my eldest always looks at me and says, “See! I am sick!” It’s crazy. I KNOW it wasn’t that way when I was a little girl…oh how I wish it was. I was ALWAYS sick and NEVER faking. And my poor mom had to force me to take the nasty stuff all of the time. I do however remember sneaking the yummy Flintstone Vitamins lol Oh well, I guess it’s a new way of helping us moms survive…without having to wring necks haha!
Comment by Katie — June 1, 2009 @ 9:56 amThere was a particular antibiotic that I got when I was little that tasted exactly like bubble gum and I begged for it when I went to the doctor. In fact I over heard the doc tell my mom sometime later that they had discontinued that flavor because of how “popular” it was with the kids…first it’s the antibiotics that reels them in and then what? Powdered fiber? ;)
Comment by Shanyn Doan — June 1, 2009 @ 12:14 pmMy oldest PREFERS SHOTS to medicine, can you believe that? When he gets strep, he negotiates with the doctor to get a shot of antibiotics instead of having to take them orally for 10 days.
Comment by Hillary — June 10, 2009 @ 1:06 pmMy youngest, though, sounds a lot like your girls. He is the reason they make childproof caps!