(no subject)

[rivka]

Rivka's recipe for an instant attitude adjustment:

For Colin, 1.875ml infant ibuprofen.[1] Effect: He got off my lap for a while and actually played with toys.

For Alex, the last four chapters of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory[2] in one glorious big lump of reading-aloud. Effect: I got about an hour's peace while she pretended to be a child Oompa-Loompa delegated to take care of Grandma Georgina after Charlie's family moved into the factory. All that was asked of me was that I occasionally repeat lines she fed me.

Unfortunately, the effect was sadly temporary. (Beaker: "Meepmy memporary.")

For myself, I have strongly considered, but rejected, a nice shot of whiskey in my tea. Damn those scruples of mine.





[1] Temp of 99.9. You'd better believe we start medicating at that low a temperature, when it's accompanied by such strong behavioral indicators of misery.
[2] Incidentally, did you know that in recent editions, the Oompa-Loompas have been whitewashed?

Comments

[mme-hardy.livejournal.com]

Awwww. (Re: the picture of your daughter).

I'm not surprised on the whitewashing; I remember being profoundly relieved that the movie Oompa-Loompas were orange. Even so, the way Wonka treats them is uncomfortable to modern eyes.

[matthewwdaly.livejournal.com]

The movie* was a profound relief over the book in very many ways even before the book was revised. Actually, the revision came out in 1973, so perhaps many adults were not exposed to the original story and illustrations. Which is a very very good thing. The most egregious of the flaws was describing (with light-hearted illustrations) how Wonka brought the Oompa-Loompas from Darkest Africa to England (or wherever they are) by shipping them in packing crates, several to a box, with holes drilled in them so they can see and breathe. Comical!

Somebody did an interesting blog post about this a while back as an example of how RaceFail worked forty years ago as these conversations were taking place in literary magazines instead of the era of instant messaging.

* Of course there was only one movie. Why would anyone dream of remaking such a perfect film? Nobody could fill Gene Wilder's shoes and no one would ever ever try LA LA LA LA lA.

[aendr.livejournal.com]

I would take a painkiller for pain, feeling grotty where I have some reason to suspect it would help or for a temperature. I don't take even over the counter medicines lightly. Ibuprofen on a bad cold would help with stuffiness, due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
If I would do it for me, then (with the caveats of not over-medicating anyone, especially children) I would do it for a child. If a trial dose makes the child less miserable, then it's worth it. After all, it doesn't help anyone in the family to have to cope with a miserable child if there's something that can be done about it.

[marydell.livejournal.com]

If you're breast-feeding Colin, the whiskey would obviate the need for the ibuprophin!

[naomikritzer]

I vote you have the whiskey.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

I've been looking forward to it all day. A nice cup of strong ginger tea with a little lemon juice, some honey, and a shot of whiskey.

[ailbhe]

I'm so glad something worked.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

...For a while. After nap, Colin was right back to Limpet Mode. At one point he broke into hysterical, but genuine, sobs of "I want Mommy!" because I had the temerity to set him in his own chair at the table. It was four inches from mine. He also tried to suggest that he could nurse while I was on the toilet, which, no.

Fortunately, he is also extremely attached to Michael, who is home now.

[kate_nepveu]

Oh dear. We call that the Cling Monster. Yes. Massively trying.

Hooray, Michael being home. When SteelyKid has turned into the Cling Monster, she mostly won't be shifted from me.

[zeldajean.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, the "Dreaded 99s" as my mom used to (and still does) call them. All three of us were downright inconsolable when our temperatures hit 99F. Having taken care of the munchkin when she was ill, I empathize wholeheartedly -- both on the relief given by the ibuprofen and the longing for a shot of whiskey!