if he's sick, why do i feel terrible?

Kenny had a virus last week that threw him, and us, for a loop.

Last Wednesday, Overboard picked him up from daycare and our daycare provider said that Kenny had been fine all day, but didn't want to get up after his afternoon nap. He roused a bit, drank a bunch of juice, then wanted to go back to sleep. This is highly unusual, as Kenny is normally non-stop while he's at daycare.

When Overboard got him home, he was running a high fever and almost immediately went to bed. She commented that he was more lethargic than she had ever seen him before.

After speaking with a doctor, and my sister-in-law's sister-in-law, who's a nurse, we knew that Kenny was probably just dealing with a virus that would pass in a day or so, but I was still freaked out. I'm not sure how to explain the emotions you feel - the terror and empathy - when your child isn't feeling well. I would have done anything to take that fever from him and get him back to "normal." To touch his forehead, and feel that intense warmth, broke my heart.

I suppose that is what parenthood is all about: Feeling emotions at unfathomable levels of intensity that your child can't possibly understand or appreciate. It's like being a teenager in reverse.

I am pleased to say that Kenny recovered nicely and was back to his usual antics and grins by Friday. Me? I'm emotionally on the mend as well.