Marsha Maung:: Freelance graphic designer and writer

I know it’s nothing serious, not like the bird flu or the dreaded dengue fever or anything like that still…chicken pox for a kid Jared’s age is bad enough. I feel responsible for it. For all those times that I thought I did everything within my power to protect my kids from sicknesses and illnesses, diseases and physical problems, here I am….sitting here with head in my hand, shaking my head…. ‘How can you not check?’

 

Almost every other kid these days have gotten the chicken pox vaccination. Yet another proof that the first child always get the best from their parents, Joshua is vaccinated. And poor second-child Jared is forgotten.

 

Sad, isn’t it? I forgot, I forgot, I forgot.

 

Oh, I meant to so many time.

 

I remember taking him to the doctor one time because Joshua had an eczema outbreak and I took Jared along to get vaccinated, but the doctor told me that Jared had a stomach virus too, so, it’s probably wiser to get the vaccination AFTER he recovers from the tummy trouble.

 

And then I forgot about it. In fact, I am not even sure if I forgot about it.

 

Now, Jared is covered with blistered spots, but he’s not really sick or anything. In fact, he’s not even bothered with it at all. He has 4 cousins and brother traipsing all around the house with and I don’t think he even FEELS uncomfortable.

 

And yet another thing…I called my mom on the phone to ask her if I ever got the chicken pox. Unsure of it, she said that perhaps I HAD the measles but not the chicken pox. So, I am exposed as it is and I might get it. I am hoping against hope that I am naturally immune to the virus. My brother had it and I was exposed. Nothing. My sister got it, still nothing. My nephew got it, nothing. So, I am hoping now that Jared gets it, it will still be the same story….NOTHING.