To the individual who believes it’s acceptable to venture out with their unwell child:
- visit Target
- run errands at the grocery store
- spend time at the library
- attend school
- participate in sports practice
- hang out at a kids’ play center
- go to a friend’s house or invite friends over
Let’s do a little math: how long has your child been unwell? A week? Now multiply that by the number of kids I have (four). That’s a month of illness you’ve just brought upon my family.
Now, add two more weeks because there’s no chance my partner and I will escape unscathed after being sneezed on, coughed on, and snotted on every night since our sick child(ren) are sharing our bed. We’re up to a month and a half now.
That’s right—six weeks of sleepless nights and utter chaos for our entire household, all because you couldn’t refrain from taking a few days until your child was no longer contagious.
And while you’re at it, you might want to multiply that number by two. After the illness circulates through my family, the first child is bound to get sick again. That’s a total of 12 weeks, folks… three months filled with drippy noses, sleepless nights, and general misery.
Think about it—that’s an entire season. All of winter. Gone.
Now, if I’m being candid, it doesn’t always pan out this way. Sometimes it drags on longer, and sometimes it’s shorter; it really hinges on the specific bug and its incubation period. But the formula above holds true, especially when we factor in exponents—when all the kids end up sick at the same time.
Can we please come to a mutual understanding on this? I truly don’t need your assistance in toughening my children’s immune systems. Let’s keep your sick kids at home, and I assure you I’ll do the same. For more on parenting during illness, check out this insightful piece on 7 Murphy’s Laws When Your Kid is Sick.
In summary, keeping sick children at home not only protects others but also minimizes the chaos that spreads through families. The impact of illness ripples out, creating a cycle of sickness that can last for months. Let’s be responsible and prioritize the health of our children and those around us.