The day was fairly normal until after snack and recess time. Back in the classroom, 'Shroom's morning class was joined by the afternoon class (today was an "overlap" day where the AM students and PM students overlap for an hour). As 'Shroom's teacher managed 48 kids on the rainbow carpet while the other teacher was at lunch, I tried to finish my long list of to-do's before the day ended.
"Mrs. Yee! Mrs. Yee*!" The was no mistaking the urgency in the teacher's voice. "I need your help RIGHT NOW!"
I rushed to the rainbow carpet where there were several students standing. One of 'Shroom's classmates was heaving and ralphing. The teacher had quickly grabbed the nearest trash can and placed it under the boy's previous splatter. Uggh. It was a mess. Vomit (chunkage and all - remember, this is after snack and recess) was everywhere as this boy had walked while barfing. It was my lucky day. I got to hold the trash can as the boy continued to toss his cookies (or whatever it was that was in his stomach).
I waited a bit before escorting the boy to the bathroom. After a moment's hestitation, I turned back and grabbed the trash can. Just in time. Another heave. And more spewing. Somehow we made it to the boys' room where I looked at the poor kid. I didn't know where to start. Clean his face? Get the bits out of his nose? His dripping hands? What about the hair?
I'll spare you the details of the clean up, however, when I went back to the classroom to get a plastic bag to hold his soaked shirt, I saw two other boys stripping down to their undershirts.
"Oh no!" I thought. "There are more kids barfing!" I found out moments later that the boy had thrown up on two other kids (thanks to minimum days with 48 students crammed on one rainbow rug). One victim had vomit on his face -- and it wasn't even his own vomit.
Needless to say, when I walked back into the boys' restroom, I noticed another disturbing scene. Some child had used the toilet (no bathroom stalls or doors around the toilet) and had explosive diarrhea. The evidence (and aftermath) was in the toilet, on the seat and yes, even on the walls.
Well, even with the interruption, I still managed to finish my to-do list. I think I should get bonus points (or extra credit of some sort) for mopping up vomit and wiping diarrhea off the bathroom wall.
Yeah, mothers seem to have flabby stomachs from pregnancy and stuff. But I tell you, we may have a jiggly mid-section (okay - so maybe I'm speaking only for myself here) but our inner stomachs are made of iron. IRON.
* I don't mind posting this name as it isn't even my surname. Somehow, so many people mangle my (rather simple) three-letter last name that I now respond to this on a regular basis.
6 comments:
Totally laughing here!
I don't know though...when it's my own kids (and believe me, we've had our situations) I don't seem to have a problem...but when it's somebody else's...I don't know if I could have been as composed and helpful as you were!
Although, I must say, that when I was student teaching I had to hold the trash can for a student, and it was in that moment that I knew that teaching was for me....no sitting at a desk doing the same thing day in day out....no two days are EVER alike. :-)
-E
Um, I'm eating my lunch here while reading this and still eating. Brings you back to the day when you had to hold the trash bag for me? :-p I thought at first the two other kids who were taking off their shirts were doing so because they barfed too and you were going to say that the stomach bug had hit the whole class!
-a real Mrs. Yee who is often called Mrs. Lee
I've gotta hand it to my honey (and you teachers out there)... Even with these occupational "perks" she still wants to be a teacher. =)
I am trying NOT to imagine high school-sized barf... =)
Speaking as a mother and a doctor - you went above and beyond. Fortunately, choice in specialty has allowed me to avoid much of these explosive childhood illnesses. Well done - my hat is off to you.
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