Got a phone call today from school. “I think you need to pick Sarah up. Her eyes are puffy, she’s coughing, and says her neck hurts.” Turns out 16 kids in Sarah’s class are out with the flu.

Sixteen out of 24. You do the math. By the time Sarah got home, her fever was up to 102. It was normal this morning. It’s amazing how life can change on a dime, you know?

So the 1:00 meeting I had with the doctor to talk about Sarah’s test results from the educational specialist is now on speaker phone.

The 4:15 Religious Education class has been modified and laid out in the classroom so my teachers aids can carry on.

The new doctor appointment is now at 5:15.

The 7:00 Boosters meeting has been pushed back one week … since three of five of us have sick children at home.

Then, just when I stopped beating my head against the steering wheel of my car from the last-minute carpooling/errand running, I fired up the computer and read this post from Extraordinary Mom Sherry Antonetti:

So read a story to a child not because it will improve their test scores but because you think they’ll like the book. Brush their hair and put in the ribbons if they love them, even if they don’t match. Allow an older one to take a break from studying even if there’s more time, and break out the Rock Band. The pseudo accomplishments of play that aren’t taken seriously have serious benefits that no ribbons, trophies or public “Like this” thumbs up can match. Play for fun. Write for fun. Create a hearth out of your home and do all the things you do, because you would do them even without the A’s, without the accolades.

Life is not just about showing up, but about being present. Not about being noticed, but noticing others.

Be sure to read the whole thing … You’ll be glad you did!