If Nothing Else Works, Knock on Wood

I'm not sure when it started, but lately I can't help myself from knocking on wood.

It's weird, because I'm not that superstitious. Sure, I don't walk under ladders or do anything crazy like that, but I'm the first one to step on a crack and have never thought to throw salt over my shoulder. (In fact, I'm not even sure why people do that.)

But for some reason this brutal winter has left me a wood-knocker when anyone mentions anything that has anything to do with the health of my children or either me or Dave.

There is no question that the past few months have left us reeling and trying to steer clear fo anyone with the sniffles. Since the first of the year I think I've only worked a five day week once or twice, and have used up a ton of sick, vacation and personal time staying home with sick kids.

So, since I can't control the weather and really can't stop anyone from sneezing on one of my kids, I've decided to knock on wood whenever possible.

Dave thinks it's kind of nuts, but lately his optimistic statements have been the ones sending me off in search of a block of wood.

"Jake's cough seems to be going away."
"It seems like the boys are really starting to get along."
"We're pretty lucky the kids didn't get your pinkeye."

Those to me are three classic examples of asking-for-it statements that, if you said them in a movie, would cut immediately to scenes of either Jake having a coughing fit, Owen hitting his brother in the head, or both kids on the couch with oozing eyes.

OK, I know that life isn't like the movies, but it can't hurt, you know? Especially with health issues – the kids have been sick so many times this winter that I feel like I need all the help I can get … even the superstitious kind.