What Would YOU Have Done?

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This week my daughter, 4, had the opportunity to visit with and perform a Christmas program for some elderly people in a senior home. The play was very cute, they performed it for the parents last weekend and it was a joy. Thing is, my daughter got sick over the weekend, as did my son (he's 2). Both have horrible coughs and my little one broke out in viral hives. I have it too and feel as if I got dragged behind a truck for about a mile. So I didn't let my daughter go on the field trip. Reasons:

1. I didn't think it was appropriate to allow a sick/contagious child around elderly people in a senior home.
2. My son, also sick, would have had to accompany me.
3. She wasn't missing any school, this was just a field trip.
4. Two sick autistic kids means Super Tantrums From Hell.

So I was talking to my dad tonight about how I was disappointed she had to miss the senior home visit, but I couldn't well send her like she was, nor could I drag my son along in that state. He gives me a sh*tty look and says, "Now don't be like that," and calls me by my mother's name. Now mind, I have strived my whole life to be everything my mother is not.

My mother has SEVERE obsessive compulsive disorder, and her primary focus is germs and bugs (body type). She washes her hands until they bleed, wipes a phone in alcohol in her own home if my dad or sister uses it, bags all her clothing in plastic as soon as she washes it and so on. I, on the other hand, don't have germ phobias. I eat things off of the floor on occasion, lol, even if I have to wipe said food off before eating it. Clearly, germs aren't my issue. However, I felt it was wrong to unnecessarily expose elderly people to illness.

So, what would you have done?

iwould take them home to rest, not just for the older people, but for the kids health as well

I would have done the same as you did.

Thanks, the validation helps

You are being a good mother. What kid wants to stand up, and sing when they're sick?

The staff at my kids' school say that I'm considered one of the best mothers they know, because I never ever send my kids to school sick.

Bottom line, if your instinct as a mom, and your logic as an intelligent person merge to make a decision, then trust that decision as right. Ignore other people when necessary.

no just let em go

Siuan you rock not only as a mother but as a human being as far as I'm concerned. You had not only your kid's health in mind but the health of others as well. Very smart and good hearted move.

I can't for the life of me figure out where your father is coming from.

You did the right thing. I myself am OCD about germs, but it used to be pretty much paralysing before, and I've since gotten better, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate that you did the right thing in the interests of hygiene, in other peoplem and your kids. *clap*

OMG! I can't believe I'm the only one who's going to say... HOW COULD YOU!? but then.. I'm just kidding! :win
You did the absolute BEST thing for everyone concerned!

I work in a hospital and get to see how sick our senior citizens can get from something younger folk brush off or spend a few days being miserable with.

also...

I used to get SO MAD at both my wife and my daughter's teachers for going into work sick. They all had the same excuse..."I'm too valuable to not be there!".
My former wife is a doctor and thought it was SO IMPORTANT for her to go in even with a runny nose, coughing, watery blood-shot eyes, whatever.
I know I wouldn't sit with my child in an office with a doctor who was that sick... I'd get up and leave.

Teachers are just as bad... oh my... "They'd have to call in a substitute if I didn't go in!"
Yeah... go in and spread your sickness to all your precious little students!

Sometimes people get so full of themselves... I just hate it! The world will still turn with them at home in bed getting proper rest and not spreading what they have!"

SEE! You did VERY WELL by my book Siuan!

The WSMAC Seal of Approval!

sorry for lawing but that supertantrums from hell was good

You did the right thing. Actually, being kind of germaphobic myself, I would hesitate to take young kids (especially when their own immunity and resistance to disease is down already) to a nursing home or hospital visit where germs abound. I too worked in a hospital. Antibiotic resistant germs are on the rise and the longer one is hospitalized, the greater one's chances for disease and death.

Yes, it's a wonderful and charitable thing to take a group of children to an institution in order to boost the spirit of our elders and other confined populations - but - germs go both ways. Protect the kids first. There are other ways to show compassion, spread joy and lift the spirit. Art work, edible treats, cards and letters, video presentations. Yes, perhaps none of those can take the place of human touch. But I wouldn't want strangers touching my children anyway.

What's your mother's name? Is it by any chance Carol?