>Read his cues.
How are you?
I don’t know. A little better.
Do you want to go to school?
Maybe. I don’t know.
(after breakfast of toast with jelly)
I feel weak and shaky.
Okay, I think you need to stay home.
He slept on the couch from 6:30 until 9:30 AM. He wanted to stay home, but wasn’t sure how to say it.

Make jello.
His stomach is feeling better, now he needs to fill it with safe foods that won’t irritate him and set him back to square one.

Work on schoolwork and other home projects while he sleeps.
He doesn’t really need me; he just needs the security of not being home alone.
I wrote a rough draft of a grant application, made jello, and drank half a pot of coffee while he was asleep. Still on my list: correct two stacks of papers, thaw something bland but tasty for supper, brainstorm a few fun blog posts just for fun.

Watch daytime TV.
Even in summertime, we don’t do this together very often. Today we watched The Price is Right and enjoyed seeing people get excited and jump up and down and win fabulous prizes while we snuggled up on the couch and drank coffee (me) and sprite (Amigo).

Chop ice on the driveway.
Well, any ice I chop will melt faster.
I only chopped a little because A.) it’s not really that warm out, and B.) I don’t want to reinjure my wrist or back. A little goes a long way.

Email his doctor about a related issue.
His acne medication can upset his stomach.
She agreed that he could stop taking it until he’s back to full strength because it could cause a relapse.