FOR THE LOVE OF SOME DEITY AND ALL THAT IS HOLY, please heed this message.
If your kid(s) is too sick to go to school, THEY HAVE TO STAY HOME. With the exception of going to a doctor office or a walk-in clinic or, heaven forbid, the ER or the IWK, then STAY THE HELL HOME. Don’t take your sick kid to the grocery store. Or to Walmart, where they play with the toys. Don’t take your sick kid to sit in the waiting room at _____, because then they play with my kid, who isn’t sick right now. Don’t take your sick kid out to eat at a restaurant. Don’t take your sick kid to the indoor playground. Don’t take your sick kid to the salon to get a hair cut.
If your kid is too sick to go to school, THEY HAVE TO STAY AT HOME, IN BED, UNTIL THEY GET BETTER. This is not fucking rocket science. TOO SICK FOR SCHOOL = YOUR KID STAYS HOME. I do not want to get sick. I do not want to get my family sick. I do not want to miss time at work, lose any wages, or have a lower immune system, just because you are stupid. —Service Worker Who Doesn’t Want To Get Sick
This article appears in Jan 4-10, 2018.
Many, many years ago when my son had chicken pox, I kept him home from school, as he was ill, but also, there were two pregnant mothers with children in his class, and it can be particularly dangerous to catch the virus for the first time, while carrying a child. After being out for only four days, I had the principal of the school call me in to ask why I was keeping my pox-ridden kid home for so long, she said “It’s fine if he is sick at school, it’s more harmful for him to miss so many days”. It seemed to be a shared attitude with many people as well when I would bring up my (what seemed reasonable to me) concerns regarding his own and others’ well-being.
There is pressure upon parents to conform to some very harmful societal norms at times.
I kept him home, regardless, and feel it was the right decision to do so. I have so many, many stories that are similar in nature. Don’t be surprised by what parents are forced to do against their better judgements when it comes to the welfare of their families.