Mom picks up ‘sick’ 5-year-old daughter from school—what happened next left her speechless
As a mom of two teenagers, watching the viral video of 5-year-old Aryn Dennis’s impromptu living room concert after being picked up from school for a “stomach ache” had me cackling and nodding in solidarity.
The Instagram clip, which has racked up 3.1 million views, shows the little performer using a TV remote as a microphone to belt out “APT” at top volume—stomach ache mysteriously nowhere to be found.
Let me tell you, I’ve been in mom Dymond Edwards’ shoes more times than I can count. There’s nothing quite like rearranging your entire workday (Edwards was working from home, bless), rushing to school in mama-bear rescue mode, only to witness your “sick” child making a recovery that would put Lazarus to shame the moment they cross the threshold of your home.
But here’s the thing—after years of playing the ‘is it sick or is it giving Ferris Bueller’ game with my own kids’ sudden ailments, I’ve learned a few things. Sometimes that stomach ache is anxiety in disguise. As insightful commenter carmen.jones.543 noted, “Maybe the stomachache was anxiety. Now she’s where she is comfortable and she belongs. Stomachache gone.”
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And honestly? Sometimes you just need a mental health day. One commenter, yourfamsam, shared the sweetest memory: “I did this once for a ‘headache’ my mama knew I was lying but picked me up anyway & took me to McDonald’s back when they had the play place w/ the ball pit & to Barnes & Noble & read me books. In my 30s & still a fond memory.”
With flu season in full swing and actual illnesses making the rounds, it’s exhausting trying to parse out what’s real and what’s… creative interpretation. Your mama heart wants to err on the side of caution—nobody wants their baby suffering at school—but the constant “come get me” calls can wear down even the most patient parent.
So here’s my two cents, from someone who’s been in the trenches: Have an honest conversation with your kids about when it’s appropriate to visit the nurse. But also? Consider building in a “get out of school free” card once a semester. Teaching our kids that mental health is just as important as physical health might just reduce those mysterious stomach aches.
As themiamethod wisely put it, sometimes you just look around and decide “that’s enough today-ing here for today.” And you know what? Sometimes that’s okay. (Though maybe next time, save the show-stopping musical numbers until after mom’s work day is done?)
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