AIBU to be totally pissed off with 11 yrs of christmas illness??

[cola2019]

11 christmases of illness. Every single year since my DS was born someone DH or one of the kids has been ill. We have had 7 xmas days with an ill family member and 2 new years and 2 of the times in between. Every year I plan to see family (both sides) and every time we have to cancel. Genrally we are a healthy family and they only ever get ill over christmas!!! why??? I thought as we had done 10 years of illness that would be it you couldn't possibly do 11. I almost didn't make plans this year but I used my optimism. Yet again we can't see my brother who now thinks we hate him and this is all a ploy to not see him and his family. I am so pissed off as I spend my whole 2 weeks holiday every year being nurse. They all take vitamins and are healthy all year so why 23rd Dec to 3rd Jan is someone always ill. AIBU to want a day off playing nurse today and go off to the sales on my own??? I would go to see my brother but the bloody train strike but don't have a car and the train strike makes it impossible. DH says I need to stay to look after him - playing nurse is wearing a bit thin after 11 bloody years!!!!

Have you tbought about quarantining yourselves from November

Sounds crap OP I don’t blame you for being over it - go to the sales. I assume your children aren’t babies or toddlers?

Your DH needs you to look after him? How ill is he?

If he has the norovirus and the loo roll supply is perilously low then I get he needs your help stocking up, but how else does an adult need nursing if they aren't so ill they need hospital care?

How ill is ill?

Raging trotskis every year then you all need to look at your hand hygiene etc.

Is it just DH and the DCs that end up I’ll or is it you too?

If you’re managing to escape the illnesses then they should be able to too.

Always flu like illness/virus with temperature. When my DD was little it was always tonsilitis. I never get it - Hubby has a bad cough cold and a temperature - however I don't think it is full blown flu. He does make a big deal of it - man flu!!!!End of term the schools are always full of coughs and colds and instead of my kids getting it in school time it tends to come out when they relax more and stop. My hubby blames carol concert/chrstmas church festivities as he is around lots of kids then. Next year I am banning anything remotely chrismassy and social from November onwards!!!

It's the same in our house. Usually the children catch something doing the rounds at school, then pass it on to me just in time for Christmas. They are better by Christmas Day and bouncing around all excited, while I feel like crap.

This Christmas was the first in many years where I've been relatively ok - mainly because it struck earlier this time and left me panicking at the last minute organising everything. I'm still not completely over it after 5 weeks. No idea what it was, but knocked me right off my feet for a few days, then dragged on after that.

Christmas needs to be in summer so that we can all enjoy it free of viruses!!

My 3 year old was in hospital 23rd/24th with confirmed flu and pneumonia. It's only this morning where he appears to be feeling slightly more human! Last Christmas he had severe tonsilitis. The year before that tonsilitis again. Christmas is doomed here too.

But that's hardly anything unusual in any family for this time of year - honest!! It shouldn't stop you doing anything (well were you won't infect others!!)

I generally really stock up on all forms of pain killers as part of my Christmas shopping!! Two of mine have bad coughs and sore throats and I've laryngitis and strep throat: the pain relief stock has been dipped into and I've watched a lot of films!!

I think the answer to why only at Christmas might be to do with the fact people do more at this time of year. This effects sleep and diet, which stresses the body and lowers immunity. (

I do know the feeling. I did remark this year that it's not Christmas unless someone is ill. We usually have someone go down with a heavy cold or fever on Christmas Eve. Lucky for us we refuse to travel anywhere so we're not letting anyone down.
This year was no exception - my 5 year old has had a very bad cold coupled with a fever. Previous years DH has had a sinus infection, I've had flu like bugs. It's very annoying as like you we'll be fine for ages until the Christmas break. I've learned to always be well stocked with tissues, Calpol and sudafed.

The more people you speak to you realise it it does happen in alot of families but when you both work and weekends are full of other bits and pieces the xmas break is really the only time when you have enough time to visit family who live far away and so annoying when for years and years illness gets in the way. We occasionally get to catch up in the summer holidays but otherwise is just christmas (or supposed to be!!). That is the problem having family scattered all around the country if they were local you could pop in and see them anytime.

It's crap but it's normal unfortunately. I worked in a school for nearly 12 years and was floored every Christmas, this year I work in a lovely clean office with lovely clean people and I'm well for the festivities for the first time in all these years. Schools are a disgusting environment, like a giant Petri dish.

DH says I need to stay to look after him

You really don't need to stay and look after him if he just has a cold at all go to the sales.

He’s got a cold he won’t melt without you

A lot of parents seem to magically forget the 48hour rule or alter what’s really “sick” in the festive period too.. little Tony’s fine he can’t miss his party/nativity/grotto/panto/fun day of some festive sort even though little Tony was up at 3 with his head in a bucket.

Even in baby groups I’ve seen parents bring in kids under one who just the night before had a d&v bug so they won’t miss Santa.. but must take a turn letting their small human germ bag rub on Santa’s knee in a que of 30 kids under the mask of “oh he was only teething”. Not as if the baby themselves gives two hoots about the party.

I am laid up with a chest infection this year after going down with flu last year. Had the flu jab this year so just got something else....