Ugh. I hate when one of the boys is sick enough to look miserable but doesn't have a fever or major symptom that screams "Keep him home from school!"

Keeping a kid home means either losing a day's pay or getting one of my parents to watch him, plus, of course, he misses school. I did keep him home Friday hoping he'd be better by this week but he's still very congested (it's all headcold symptoms), low energy and has these pitiful dark circles under his eyes. But he has no fever, he's eating and drinking ok, etc.

How do you make the call when you're on the fence about keeping a kid home from school?

You ask will sending him to school wind up backfiring on you and make him even sicker. I hate that situation and I'm sorry to hear you're in it.

Ugh is right. My kid is still so in love with school and the sociality of it (kindergarten), that I usually send her if it's on the edge. If I ask and she tells me she feels too sick to go, I know it's really bad. The exception, of course is a fever or if she's likely still contagious. This only works if your kid really, really digs school, though.

I don't lose a day's pay but I still hate having Big O stay home if she really doesn't need it. In our house, fever, rash, or puke are the only true measures of sickness. I've had to send her off with headaches, though I give her Motrin. So far no stomachaches in the mornings to debate over. Last week she felt nauseous after lunch and the school nurse called. O asked to come home. I said if she came home, she would go right to bed and would not go to her church club that evening. She decided she felt OK enough to stick it out (and go to the club), which told me she wasn't really sick. I'm a tough mommy, but she complains about so many aches, pains, and ills (Daddy's daughter) that she'd never go if I took them all seriously.

I give them some meds, send them to school, and tell them if they still feel under the weather at school to go to the clinic.

Leaving school early does not count as an official absence. I also seem to have better reception from mgmt at my work for having come in, dealt with a few things, etc. before going home.

My mother was pretty hardline with staying home from school. And we literally had to have a limb or appendage falling off to get a trip to the pediatrician. She had two items in her first aid kid -- baby aspirin and butterfly bandages.

But, I'm much more empathetic to my kids and I do think sometimes a good day of rest is sometimes what they need.

HBD, my older one is the complainer so with him I need to see vomit, blood or a fever over 102! Seriously, he'd stay home for an ingrown toenail.

Luke won't ask to stay home because he rarely asks for anything. Initiating a request like that isn't yet in his verbal abilities. He won't even ask for a blanket if he's cold or specify he has a headache. It's like having a 6 month old who looks sick but can't tell you what's wrong.

I'll send him tomorrow and if he still looks shitty at the end of the day, I'll give him Wed to rest and hopefully feel better enough to enjoy Thanksgiving.