Bronchitis and Portuguese girlfriends -how not to cure it

Big J has Bronchitis.  Amazingly she has yet to cough up a lung. The doctor says she is too ill for school so that means she is laying on the sofa with a scarf around her throat texting all her mates whilst watching Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging.

The wonderful thing about teen illnesses is how quickly it gets serious an then almost disappears again. It appears every time she is asked to do something and disappears when she lies down to text her mates. I am sure any other mum would be suspicious

She tells me that she didn’t eat a thing around her dads the weekend whilst unwrapping and cooking three packets of noodles for herself and rummaging through the fridge for some cheese and bacon to go on them.  She also tells me he dad has the waitress from their Portuguse holidays living with them. Her name is Stella and Big J really likes her (in the past this has been Dads cue to get rid of the girlfriend). Where he met a waitress on the golf course I have yet to work out, but I am happily relieved his isn’t waiting for me and Kev to split up any more.

Stella doesnt speak much English and is very good at housework. She was also taking Big J to the Doctors until she heard I was going to collect her from the Doctors So she went to the Doctors by herself. I rang her dad and asked why Stella did not take her to the doctors and he said “How am I supposed to know, she doesn’t speak English”. Now he wants Big J to go and look after her, as he is working away from home and Stella doesn’t like being alone. Big J’s Portuguese is coming along very well, a few more weeks of this and she will be fluent.

I think a teen should not be looking after her dads 30 something girlfriend at home, on her own. I am trying to establish whether I am just being spiteful because she didnt take my daughter to the Doctors or whether it’s because I am thinking that it should be the other way around, that she should be looking after my little girl.

Big J has antibiotics to take, and her scarf permanently wrapped around her throat and is eating everything in sight, so I think she will be soon over it. either that or Stella’s cooking isnt that great and she is fuelling up for her weekend around there.

The Bronchitis has been bugging me too, it can be caused by:
Viruses
Bacteria
Dust
Smoking
Breathing in certain kinds of irritating chemicals

With the exception of the irritating chemicals, bronchitis can be caused by anything in your average teens bedroom… I am making all the girls wash their hands with a foaming germ killer as I read somewhere it’s contagious.

Personally I am not going to let it ruin Christmas and Big J isnt letting it get in the way of her life unless it suits her of course… in the mean time she is looking forward to her Febuary holiday in Portugal.

Sarah

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