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AIBU?

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Original poster

To take DS to a pantomime when he’s coughing

48 replies

needabreak5 · 16/12/2022 22:17

DS1 is recovering from an illness. Had a temperature earlier in the week but is now fine in himself/full of energy but has a lingering cough that is continuous at times. Normal for him and happens every time he gets a cold. (E.g. DS2 likely had same virus at same time but cough disappeared on Wednesday).

He’s been back to school today as per schools advice. We have tickets for a pantomime tomorrow afternoon - would you take him, I’m conscious that he may be coughing sitting very close to strangers. WWYD?

OP posts:
NaturalBae · 16/12/2022 22:17

No.

moreparmesan · 16/12/2022 22:18

Personally yes. Lots of people will be coughing. If he is otherwise fine and no more temperature and has been at school, can’t see the issue. Coughs can last weeks!

RunnerBum · 16/12/2022 22:20

I wouldn’t. The noise alone will be a pain, but risking making others unwell at Christmas isn’t fair. It’s such an important time for people and people see vulnerable relatives that they may otherwise try to reduce physical contact with. It’ll also be hot and stuffy so if he’s not at full health he’ll be uncomfortable - and a bug would spread like wildfire. Sounds awful for everyone to be honest.

NuffSaidSam · 16/12/2022 22:20

I'd take him, but be prepared to take him out if he's coughing too much. Not so much because of the germs, but because of how irritating it will be for everyone else.

Veryverycalmnow · 16/12/2022 22:21

It's December, everyone's coughing, surely

TheLittlestLightOnTheXmasTree · 16/12/2022 22:24

No. Why spoil it for everyone else if he's coughing a lot it won't be pleasant!

zebracros · 16/12/2022 22:29

DD and I have had a coughing bug and we've been to pantos and other shows, never occurred to us not to go (they were expensive tickets and both felt fine in ourselves). Definitely weren't the only ones! Just bring some cough sweets/water or whatever helps relieve it. May be worth getting a cough suppressant. Pantos are quite noisy with lots of songs, so the noise shouldn't be too disturbing.

00100001 · 16/12/2022 22:29

Wasn't there some sort of virus that was spread by coughing.... A couple of years back.... Co.... Coooooveee nine...... It's on the tip of my tongue. 🤔🤔🤔

Jesus fucking Christ, has nobody learned anything from Covid-19, when THE ENTIRE FUCKING PLANET went into lockdown??

Overthebow · 16/12/2022 22:32

Yes it’s fine, go and have fun. People cough, it’s life. I wouldn’t go if he was actually unwell but a lingering cough is so common and can last for ages. If we stayed in every time that happened in our house we’d never be out in winter. I’m sure those worried about illnesses won’t be at a packed theatre anyway (or shouldn’t be).

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 16/12/2022 22:32

I’m going to take myself to a Panto tomorrow with a lingering cough (from an illness I had last week). I mean I’ll be there with the kids, but I’ll be the one coughing.

Take plenty of water and cough sweets if he’s old enough for them to minimise annoyance to others

Original poster
needabreak5 · 16/12/2022 22:34

Thanks all. I do hear coughing everywhere atm. I feel it would be unfair for DS to miss out if lots of people there are coughing anyway. I’m pretty sure he’s not highly contagious given the fever was almost a week ago. But others won’t know that, and we may need to take him out if he starts coughing constantly and disturbs those around us. I’m still torn!

OP posts:
Ivyonafence · 16/12/2022 22:37

Please don't take someone who is continuously coughing to a pantomime.

At the very least please remove him when he coughs.

I assume you've tested him for covid and he's negative?

rainbowandglitter · 16/12/2022 22:38

No I wouldn't.

saturnisturning · 16/12/2022 22:40

Pantos will be full of kids coughing and they’re usually so loud that you won’t hear any coughs

sunflowerdaisyrose · 16/12/2022 22:42

My daughter and I have a cough lingering from a cold (covid tests neg for both of us) and we went to the theatre tonight - both had cough medicine before we went, took sweets we could suck and some water. Was also prepared to leave but we didn't cough much at all. Coughed a lot coming out into the cold though!

Puppers · 16/12/2022 22:45

No I wouldn't. It's deeply inconsiderate. For a start, the noise is annoying and distracting for everyone around you. In addition, people aren't going to know it's not an infectious cough (assuming you are correct about that) and it is likely to cause some people a lot of discomfort and anxiety to be sat close to a child with a continuous cough indoors.

MarmiteCoriander · 16/12/2022 22:45

Assuming you have ALL tested and are neg- on the day of going- not just days beforehand? I'd give your child honey and lemon to suppress the constant cough and depending on their age- get them to wear a mask or not go at all.

Would you normally inflict something infectious on friends, family, elderly relatives???

HollyDollyChristmas · 16/12/2022 22:47

No, imagine sitting next to him, no thanks. I was gifted theatre tickets last Christmas for Waitress which I’d been wanting to see for such a long time but had a cough so my DD went with a friend instead.

HowVeryLikeSibella · 16/12/2022 22:47

It's a panto not Gotterdammerung. Total silence is not expected from the audience. Ply him with non-stop sweets and apologise to neighbours for any noise but reassure them that it's a lingering cough and he's not contagious.

Ineedsleepandcoffee · 16/12/2022 22:49

Coughs linger. If he is well enough to be back at school he is well enough to go to a pantomime. Make sure to bring some water and sweets to help reduce coughing.

Original poster
needabreak5 · 16/12/2022 22:54

for those asking, we tested both kids twice when they had fever on Sunday/Monday. And again before they went back to school/ nursery later in the week. All 6 tests were negative.

OP posts:
Mariposista · 16/12/2022 22:55

Would you have asked that question pre-covid? Or would you have just seen if he felt well enough to enjoy it? Do whatever you would have done in 2019 and previous.

Puppers · 16/12/2022 22:57

HowVeryLikeSibella · 16/12/2022 22:47

It's a panto not Gotterdammerung. Total silence is not expected from the audience. Ply him with non-stop sweets and apologise to neighbours for any noise but reassure them that it's a lingering cough and he's not contagious.

People still pay a lot of money to go a pantomime. There's a massive leap from silence to a continuous hacking cough which is irritating and distracting for a lot of people.

TenoringBehind · 16/12/2022 23:00

It will ruin it for those sat near him. Inconsiderate.

gogohmm · 16/12/2022 23:12

Depends on frequency, every 15 mins or less go, more often then maybe not, though have you tried cough suppressant

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