This has been bothering me since Sunday - would you have done this?

[hathorinareddress]

So, the DD's and me were out to lunch in a local carvery place on Sunday.

Little girl (about 18mths or so) obviously unwell, very grizzly, out to lunch with what I took to be parents, grandparents and an aunt and uncle.

She's in front of me at the servery for the carvery - mum is carrying her, she's flushed and grizzly, coughing, snotty.

Carvery server/chef says "Awh she's not very happy" and the mum says "yes she was up all night vomiting and she's very clingy"

I know it was Mother's Day and all, but would you have taken a child who'd been up all night being sick to a carvery and let her breath/snot all over the food? Or AIBU to think they should have stayed at home? Or even kept her at the table so she didn't germ all over everyone else's food? Or am I just a grumpy old harridan?

Sick kids belong indoors. It's cruel to drag them out like that. The germs wouldn't have bothered me, but I don't like seeing sick kids out and about.

YANBU. Who on earth takes vomiting child out to a restaurant? Utter madness, unfair on everyone especially the child.

Hidden she was really quite miserable and not enjoying herself - she was just whiney and really not happy.

I felt really sorry for her - the adults were doing their best to jolly her along but she really wasn't having a good time.

I'd have probably pointedly remarked loudly " Awww and have they dragged you out to spread it around then pet" to the little one, or said "pity you didn't keep her at home and nurse her then" or words to that effect.
It's cruel to the child, and very unhygenic, to say the least. Poor little thing must have been exhausted and unhappy all day :(

I wonder if the adults spend their time going to places when they're sick. 'Tis a shame for the child.

I felt really sorry for her

If she was snotty, she probably vomited due to coughing.

Either way, she would probably have been better off at home by the sound of it.

Yanbu
That's filthy and one adult should have stayed home with the child. It's no wonder we all get ill so much with this sort of selfish behaviour

If it had been me and XH when kids were small, which ever one of us it wasn't the parent's of we were out with (if you see what I mean) would have stayed at home and the other one would have gone.

YANBU
Although I did once take DSs out for a meal, I should probably say now that they all appeared fine when we left, however halfway through eating DS2 projectile vomited across the table.
I have never been so embarrassed in my life, I certainly wouldn't ever risk it with an already vomiting child, irrespective of other people catching it!

UANBU
Who admits in public that their DC has been vomiting. Certainly not in a restaurant.

Going out with under the weather DCs happens (or you'd never go anywhere), but there are limits.

I confess DD1 caught me out spectacularly.
She was sick once in the night, but ate her breakfast and looked fine.
I had my 20 week scan appointment, no baby sitting and DH was abroad with work.

Went to scan, no problem, she was delighted to be told she was having a little sister.

Stupidly decided to have lunch in Debenhams cafe.
Just as I was paying she decides to throw up an entire chocolate milk shake. She soaked herself and made one hell of a mess.
Of course I had no spare clothes, she ended up wearing the T shirt I had on as a vest as a dress.

I didn't go back for several years

Or even kept her at the table so she didn't germ all over everyone else's food? Or am I just a grumpy old harridan?

Have you been ill because of this incident?

I will never forget the time that we had a party in the restaurant who were staying in the hotel. The girl in the party looked about 10, was pale and didnt look too good when they walked in and she didnt want to order any food. Her mother wasnt very impressed, ordered for her and just after their starters she threw up everywhere.

The mother sat there and watched me clean it up, didnt apologise or anything and asked how long their main courses would be! I said that I would check and did she want a jug of ice and water sent to their room? The mother asked what was I talking about, they werent leaving as they hadnt finished their meal. The girl was on the point of collapse at this point, she had that sweaty sheen on her skin and looked bloody awful. I said that as the girl was obviously ill the best place for her was in bed, and that I couldnt risk her infecting other diners (who were all looking horrified btw). I said that I was happy to serve their meals in their room, would bring spare sheets and towels etc incase the child was sick in the night...basically, all the stuff you would offer to do to help.

She flatly refused to leave, said her dd was just being a drama queen and they wanted to have their meal. he girl was crying, asking her mum if they could go and being told to be quiet :( In the end I had to refused to bring their food unless they had it in their room. She was FUMING, kick off in no small way and started shouting and screaming at me, the girl was sobbing and sobbing. Then one of the other diners, a very well to do middle aged man stood up and told her that she should be ashamed of herself. She had a sick child and all she was worried about was spending time eating and drinking with her friends. He was so calm and dignified when he called her a dreadful mother that she suddenly turned into mother of the century and started demanding doctors phone numbers etc!

They left to go home first thing in the morning, which lost me a bet as I was sure that they would go the wedding they had been due to attend, thus spreading the germs further.

Cost me a fortune in free drinks, deserts etc to the other diners that night though!

YANBU at all.
Anyone with a sickness bug is advised to stay off school/work/nursery for 48 hours.
How disgusting of her parents to drag her out in such circumstances.
Again no wonder sickness bugs spread so quickly when people show such a disregard to basic hygiene principles.

The worst thing of this kind I have witnessed was at a wildlife park. A young girl was on a swing boat ride when she vomitted. The sick was literally spewing down the floor of the swing boat, swirling amongst other people's feet.
The attendant stopped the ride and eventually the girl got off, looking dreadful. He then got a mop and bucket and cleaned the ride up. He told the rest of the passengers to stay on and he would start the ride again.
Meanwhile the mother of the sick child asked for her money back, saying her daughter hadn't had a full turn!
The attendant refused as it was tokens only and he kept no money on the ride, so she dragged her ill child away screaming I AM GOING TO GET MY MONEY BACK, and I will get you fired. The child looked mortified.

Bogeyface

It's no wonder we all get ill so much with this sort of selfish behaviour

Really! We should all be locked up permanently!

Poor child - should have been at home.

YANBU
the first thing that comes into my head when one of my dcs are sick is that whatever is planned for tomorrow will have to be cancelled. if we need anything in from the shop or chemist i will ring my friend and she is usually able to get it for me to save having to take sick child out of the house.

We go into "lock down" as in the person who is ill and me are off limits to everyone and the rest of family only do absolute bare essentials when leaving the house. We have our own cups, plates etc. I have my sick-kit, which lives in the washing up bowl with "SICK BOWL" written on the side in marker pen, which the MW thought was very funny when I was in labour! I have dettol, anti bac and anti virus hand stuff, and we squirrel ourselves in the smallest bedroom. It sounds OTT but (touch wood) I have always managed to contain it.

I had a really bad dose of Norovirus about a month ago, and thanks to the sick kit no one else got it. I know my mum thinks I over react but frankly with 7 toilet using people and only one bathroom, I need to make sure it doesnt spread!

if my children are ill, they come first.

if i could cliam back the money i have lost because i am unable to find childcare when DC get ill, i would be sitting on at least £1000.

if your child is sick and contigious stay at home.

Some parents are just selfish beyond words, they don't care about their own children or the other people they are infecting, it's all about them, their social lives are more important than anybody else.

Bogeyface

No, we haven't been ill. But surely it's basic common sense not to take out a sick child and risk infecting others?

Bogeyface that sounds awful