this probably wouldn't bother me so much. Well, maybe it would, but I wouldn't feel the need to sound off on my blog.
Ok, here goes.
I am SOOOOO sick and tired of people bringing sick kids to things. Obviously, you can't stay confined to your house, but have some consideration. Daycares don't allow sick kids, so why do people think it's ok to bring their hacking child to Sunday School? Or a kid covered in a rash to a playgroup? For the past several weeks at church, there have been sick kids every week. A few weeks back, a girl came to the nursery with pink eye. PINK EYE! As in a nasty, gooey and runny eye. I spotted it immediately and so we couldn't leave Olivia in the nursery because the girl had already touched a gazillion toys. Then yesterday, I truly believe a little girl had bronchitis. She hacked and hacked these nasty, mucus-filled coughs from her chest all over my child's face. A few weeks back, a mom in my moms' group brought her son to an event and he was covered with a rash. We thought it was poison ivy or something, but when another mom questioned her, she "relieved" us by telling us that no, he didn't have poison ivy, it was just strep throat. Like that's better?
I didn't mention this because it's totally gross, but a few weeks ago, we found that both Olivia and I had lice. Yes, lice. Courtesy of yet another person who shouldn't have been somewhere they were, although I guess it's possible they didn't know they had it. We immediately went into confinement, washed everything in the house, cleaned furniture, dry-cleaned comforters, vacummed our cars, and did not one, but TWO lice treatments on both of us. Worst of all were the agonizing hours spent leaning over while James practically pulled my hair out combing it with the nit come. They were gone within a day or two, but we stuck close to home for several days just to be sure. I was considerate (and totally grossed out and embarrased). Although I must point out, it has nothing to do with hygiene. We all bathe every day, but it makes no difference.
I'm not one of those moms who freaks out about germs (well, maybe a little) but I do want her to build immunites. However, I'm not going to purposely subject her to a child who has something terribly uncomfortable like pink eye. A common cold is one thing, but I don't want a kid with a gross chest cough hacking on my child's face. That's just nuts. It's especially bad when they're now saying kids under 2 can't have cold medicine. I'd rather she wasn't miserable thank you very much.
It just bothers me how inconsiderate people are. In my new moms' group, we have a much-needed policy about bringing sick kids, but in church, no one says anything. I know they think I'm neurotic because if there is a kid with an obvious illness (we're not talking a crusty nose), I won't leave her. I don't care. I'd rather not throw her to the wolves.
Ok, stepping off my soapbox now. Thanks for listening.
Posted by Hannah at November 20, 2007 07:38 PMHannah, I totally agree with you. I don't leave Amelia in a setting with sick children and if a sick child shows up in a public setting where she is playing (like the mall play area) and is near her, I move her. If that doesn't work, we leave. It's not worth it when the result could be her being sick and losing her appetite, wheezing in her crib at night for several nights, etc. Like most moms, I hate to see her suffer and I feel so guilty and helpless when she's sick.
Posted by: Jennie at November 20, 2007 08:50 PMAMEN! This is a huge pet peeve of mine as well!
Posted by: Jessica at November 20, 2007 10:04 PMI agree~your concern is definitely valid. Why do some people not "get it" & have common courtesy? When you have a sick child, stay away from public outings as much as possible~you know?!? I'm the same way as you~when either of my boys (or me for that matter) are sick, we stay home until everyone's better. We've even missed some family get togethers when one/both of the boys were sick~because I had the common courtesy & concern & didn't want anyone else to contract what they had.
Posted by: Connie at November 20, 2007 11:53 PMI couldn't have said it better myself. I have kept Lila out of the church nursery for the past two Sundays b/c she had a runny nose. It just ticks me off so bad when I walk her in there and some other kid is all snotty and gross.
As for the lice, I hope you know who you got it from. When I was in second grade I got it twice at school, because the girl sitting in front of me had it continuously. My mom finally showed up at the school and told them I wouldn't be back at school until they took care of the problem. They did and all was well. It's a really terrible thing though....I imagine you flipped when you found out Olivia had it.
Posted by: Chas at November 21, 2007 12:42 AMI totally agree with you. Some people are just stupid inconsiderate assh*les. To put it bluntly. Pink eye is RIDICULOUSLY contagious, we had to stay away from school if we had it. It also doesn't provide any kind of immunity at all if you get it once, it doesn't mean you have any defence against it next time- don't even get me started on hacking mucousy coughs! I could go on all day how they piss me off!!
Posted by: Valkyrie at November 21, 2007 01:57 AMAmen girl! The lice thing is terrible - I hate that for you girls. BUT you are totally right - people are so inconsiderate about bringing sick/lice infested children out in public. Stay home and rid yourself of the nasties!
Posted by: Sara at November 21, 2007 09:23 AMYup! I'm with you! I don't take my kids to church if they are hacking or snotty. I don't want any more than my share so I assume others don't want their kids sick either. It's just common courtesy but there are those out there that don't have any at all or they are too self involved to care about others. Ugh. Especially now with the no cold meds thing.
Posted by: villagegirl at November 21, 2007 06:10 PMI agree it's one thing if you have a cold, but even then I try and stay home if that's the case, but to bring a child somewhere with pink eye, lice URGH! Hello we aren't allowed to send our children to school if they have those things so what the heck are the parents thinking... oh it bugs me too.
Posted by: emmakirsten at November 22, 2007 01:11 AMLore wasn't in the nursery at church for the first year of her life... because of stupid people like that... and we are going to keep her out again because even one of the nursery workers came to church sick... I told her off and told her that if Lore got sick because she was at church with a fever of 104 she was paying the co-pay... but I agree... if you are sick... stay home!!!
Posted by: Shannon O. at November 24, 2007 11:05 PM