Life

Doesn't Frighten Me

LIFE DOESN’T FRIGHTEN ME

by Maya Angelou and Jean-Michel Basquiat

FEAR

by Life Doesn’t Frighten Me

MOTHERHOOD

by Life Doesn’t Frighten Me

Life doesn’t frighten me. But death does.

And nothing reminds me faster than you with a lightning fever.

99. 101. 102.

I feel something gripping you. I claw to rip it off but I can’t see — it’s hiding under your bed.

What has you by the head? I think —

Okay six hours earlier…I drop you off at preschool. It’s not supposed to be your first day, but it is. I swear you’re ready. Basket full of strawberries, off you are through the gate.

… I wait.

My phone sparks. “You forgot her water.”

Right. Home and back in thirty seconds flat.

“I’ll hand it off and be on my way. Probably with a shrug of a heartache,” I think but as I pull up —

I hear you. From the street. Shrieking. Freaking. Terror dripping down your chin.

…

Toddlers are tantrums, but you lock in your emotions so deep. I’ve seen long skinny finger feelings eat you alive from the inside.

You’ll swallow them until they choke you icy blue.

Your father does it too.

…

My system spiking, I hurl flames at the gate.

A wet fiery fear — you collapse on me.

“It’s just her first day.” That’s what they say. But you don’t look right to me.

…

Now home I study you like an ancient text I’ve never read before.

1. You’re not eating

2. Still spilling feelings all over our floor

3. Collecting clues but we’ve never been here before

You must be so scared, so mad. “Adventures aren’t always comfortable,” I eek, “but they are important.”

Your silence burns holes in my core.

“We must try school again, Lilyan.”

You won’t even look at me. Or — wait. A face eating itself. Swollen eyes.

A sudden 103 fever on you.

We cry. Don’t take her from me. Dear G-d. I’d rather die. Just show me. What is eating my baby alive? I’ll kill it.

I hold you through the dark. Serve you crackers and strawberry popsicles.

Sunny days sweeping the clouds away. Sunny days sweeping the clouds away. Sunny days sweeping the clouds away. Sunny days sweeping the clouds away.

It’s three hundred hours until your rash breaks out in the middle of the night. It’s impetuous. Covers your mouth. Paints down your belly.

Then, G-d turns on the light and

you’re totally fine!

Wow, I’ve never heard of —

ROSEOLA

by Life Doesn’t Frighten Me

Roseola: A generally mild viral infection caused by two strains of herpes virus. It's common, usually affecting children by age two. Babies and small children normally get a rapid-onset, quickly spiking fever for 3 to 5 days.

Additional symptoms may include crankiness, reduced appetite, mild diarrhea, pain in the ear, swelled glands, swelled eyelids, and runny nose.

About one or two days after the fever breaks, the patient quickly gets a rash that is not painful or itchy on the trunk, abdomen, neck, and possibly arms and legs. The rash looks like a cluster of pinkish red spots. The noncontagious roseola rash is present for a day or two and does not reappear.

It was once named “sixth disease” to indicate that it was the sixth disease young children typically developed and that it lasted about six days.

Treatment includes bed rest, fluids, and medications to reduce fever.

Keep a child with a fever comfortable but not overdressed. Overdressing can raise body temperature. A cool bath with a water temperature of about 85 degrees could be therapeutic.

Despite a lack of appetite it’s good to offer homemade chicken stock, teas, popsicles, crackers, and comfort foods like strawberries.

Simply Organic | Turmeric, Genexa | Kids’ Acetaminophen, iHealth | Thermometer, Liquid I.V. | Kids , Enyo | Boo Boo Bag

MOMMY

by Life Doesn’t Frighten Me