I called it tonight. I exerted my Mommy authority and told Rose she was not going to school tomorrow.

Rose: But I have to go to school! I'll miss too much!

Rose does not have a fever. She is not throwing up. She is not having trouble breathing. But she is sick. She has a sore throat, head-ache, dizziness, can't concentrate, exhausted. She can't learn like this.

For the first time this week we had a peaceful evening. Aside from the occasional--I must go to school/you can't go to school--she drank throat cure tea with honey and read her book. No rolling on the floor in agony because she couldn't face her homework. No trying to do the homework and not being able to focus.

Tomorrow, if she has the energy, she can practice the cello, the piano, and do all the homework I wouldn't let her do tonight. Or, she can just lie in bed and read her book.