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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to let an obviously poorly DS (6) still go to the Olympics?

349 replies

lechatnoir · 09/08/2012 07:51

DS has been so excited about to going to the Olympics all year (he's written stories about it, made a countdown calendar, sleeps with his Wenlock toy, boasted to anyone who'll listen - typical 6 year old over excitement) and at bedtime whispered to me that it was going to be the best day of his life!

Unfortunately not long after then twice more in the night & again this morning, he's had his head in the toilet being sick. Initially I thought it was just over excitement but 4 times in one night must be a bug (family macaroni cheese is definitely not the culprit). Of course he swears blind he's fine despite clearly not being right BUT I just don't have the heart to say he can't go Sad DH is still ok about taking him & thinks he can't miss this once in a lifetime opportunity but AIBU & should I make his stay at home?

OP posts:
altinkum · 09/08/2012 08:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Noren · 09/08/2012 08:14

I have to go to work in a similar state today because our work rules say we're not allowed off as often as I pick up bugs. There'll be plenty of other poor folk in the same boat so I wouldn't feel guilty about infecting others. But yeah, if he's alright for the journey he'll be fine.

TurkeyDino · 09/08/2012 08:15

I would let him go with some antibacterial hand gel and some sick bags. It is once in a lifetime and he will never ever forget that he missed out.

It's probably excitement anyway.

MrsKeithRichards · 09/08/2012 08:15

But lets work on the assumption the op will take ds out if the sickness starts again. Shit happens. People know that and in real life people don't get so hysterical about a child spewing.

EmilieFloge · 09/08/2012 08:15

I took ds2 to an evening party last year, a proper, big, grown up party.

He was 3. He had been sick once, at about 11am, and fine ever since though I had kept him apart from everyone else in case.

Our close friend whose party it was insisted I bring him though I was very reluctant. I should not have listened. He was fine till about 10pm then suddenly decided to throw up again - we made it to the bathroom, and he did it in the sink and I washed it carefully to minimise the chance of him giving it to anyone else.

I then isolated him in the bedroom upstairs, and he was not sick again during the night.

Apparently at least one other child caught it from him and was ill for a day or two after the party. I felt terrible about it.
I am the sort of person who never sends them to school within 24, or preferably 48 hours, as I hate other people taking chances with my children's health - so I am suitably ashamed.

I really think it would be better to keep your ds at home, and try to make it up to him on another day, somehow. Sorry x

Original poster
lechatnoir · 09/08/2012 08:16

He's eating a piece of toast and drinking water so I think if he can keep that down he can go (DH now tells me the night time incident he leapt up for, he wasn't actually sick so down to 3 bouts). They need to leave 8:45 latest so no chance if swopping with anyone else and when I say obviously not well it's because he looks pale & pasty Sad

OP posts:
OhWhatAPalaver · 09/08/2012 08:16

good for him, so what if he's ill. it's a once in a life time opportunity. you wouldn't cancel a holiday abroad if your child has been sick ffs. people go all over the place with bugs and colds and all sorts. it's not like everyone should be quarantined just cos they have a bit of a bug. hope he enjoys the games :)

Original poster
lechatnoir · 09/08/2012 08:17

Eta I wouldn't send him to school or a party like this but Olympics in your home town just isnt going to happen again.

OP posts:
NigellaTufnel · 09/08/2012 08:18

I don't think he'll kill anyone but to take a child with a vomiting bug to a mass collection of people would be irresponsible and selfish.

Shit happens in life you miss nice stuff. How many of the "go on, take him camp" would be chilled if their dc caught this bug at the Olympics and it meant missing a flight? Or a family member's wedding? Or in the case of very young children - like my DS - a bug like this landed him up in hospital.

I really feel for this boy, it is hard. But make him King for the Day, try and swap tickets, plan the most amazing day out, but don't take him.

seeker · 09/08/2012 08:19

I do hope all you "oh just take him" people don't apply the same rule to your own children and school........

JumpingThroughHoops · 09/08/2012 08:19

Life is full of "what ifs" -thats the risk you take when you step out in public without an oxygen mask on.

TAKE HIM

MadgeHarvey · 09/08/2012 08:20

@ 'licking the elderly! Best. Line. Ever.

Grin
MammaTJisanOlympicSumoWrestler · 09/08/2012 08:21

Probably just excitment. Not infectious, well excitment can be but the vomming from it isn't.

noddyholder · 09/08/2012 08:21

I wouldn,t take him. He s six and will get over it. May e when he feels better as you live close a trip to the park word satisfy him.

EightiesOlympicGolds · 09/08/2012 08:21

Take him.

OhWhatAPalaver · 09/08/2012 08:22

oops misunderstanding - thought he'd already gone!!

MrsKeithRichards · 09/08/2012 08:23

My ds has picked up bugs. I've not worked myself into a frenzy trying to work out where it came from. I just accept it's part of life, because it is. And being sick doesn't automatically equal a contagious illness!

EmilieFloge · 09/08/2012 08:25

I think you're mistaken to send him, he's had barely any sleep, he's been sick already this morning.

I don't think he will enjoy it much.

MrsKeithRichards · 09/08/2012 08:26

You just know some hysterical head case will come onto this thread later...

'my ds was at the Olympics today and has now been sick, it's your fault!!!'

EmilieFloge · 09/08/2012 08:27

Also, you're effectively saying that his enjoyment is more important to you than everyone else's health. So your child is more important than everyone else who is going there today - possibley people with lowered immunity, for whom something like this could land them in ITU - people on chemo for example,

well perhaps they ought to stay at home, but then...they probably won't get a chance to see another olympics either.

It's up to you but I think it's very selfish.

Chandon · 09/08/2012 08:27

4 times sick? he should be in bed, and that's that.

Last time we went out to an event, a boy in the row behind us started vomiting copiously. He was sick in 3 different places, we all had to sit in the stink (well, I left) as nobody, obviously was going to clean it up.

maybe that's coloured my view.

peggyblackett · 09/08/2012 08:27

I wouldn't take him. Norovirus is grim, especially so if your immunity is compromised in some way :( One infected person at the games could mean tens more taking it home with them and infecting their families.

I would treat him to another really special day when he is better.

Stangirl · 09/08/2012 08:28

Oh do please take him! I'm thinking how sad he will be if he doesn't go.

If he was sat next to me in the crowd, vommed and you cleared it all up it wouldn't faze me in the least.

I think people are being over the top with some comments. As others have said, people are out and about incubating and passing on illnesses all the time unknowingly. I took my 2.5yo out to see the torch pass when she had chicken pox. Kept her in the buggy and wouldn't let anyone come near her.

MrsKeithRichards · 09/08/2012 08:30

Since when was it noro virus?!

EmilieFloge · 09/08/2012 08:30

Stangirl, you can't keep everyone away from him at the olympics. That's not practical. He's too old for a buggy as well.