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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take my kids on a mini break on their ‘sick’ days

58 replies

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 02/02/2023 09:46

Had to pick 6yo DS up yesterday from school at 2pm because he’d had diarrhoea and hadn’t quite made it to the loo. They aren’t sure if it was something he ate at lunch (ie beef stew) or a bug but they have asked me to keep him off for 48 hours just in case. So the rest of the week!

Because it was close to the end of the school day I also picked up 9yo DD who had been complaining of belly ache all day, so they asked under the circumstances I keep her for off at least today, just in case.

thankfully I’m self employed so can be off with them.

Anyway, we’ve had no more diarrhoea and they are both absolutely fine! DD could be back tomorrow, but DS still has to stay off regardless.

It’s a boring 2 days with us just cooped up in the house. They have done all their homework, and tidied their rooms just this morning.

I’m thinking of taking them on a city break to a place that’s about an hour away, where there’s a shopping centre, hotel with a pool, arcades etc. I had been talking about a city break for a little while but we never seem to have a free weekend.

Would it be really cheeky to not send DD in tomorrow and spend their sick days on this city break? Or is that CF territory and teaching them a terrible lesson 🤣

OP posts:
octopusrus · 02/02/2023 10:15

"No symptoms of a bug except the diarrhoea"

Confused
takealettermsjones · 02/02/2023 10:15

Kanaloa · 02/02/2023 10:09

You can have one runny movement without it being D&V. Some foods irritate my stomach like that and my little boy is exactly the same. I’m not saying it’s a great idea to take him swimming and I probably wouldn’t just in case but one loose movement isn’t really D&V. Even at nurseries we only send a child home after 3 strikes - so they’d need to have three extremely loose nappies for us to consider it D&V and ask them to leave for 48 hours.

He's not in nappies. He's six and had diarrhoea such that he couldn't make it to the bathroom in time. He has been told to leave for 48 hours.

takealettermsjones · 02/02/2023 10:20

This winds me up no end. I've worked myself into the ground this winter because my toddler keeps getting illnesses from nursery. I've taken every bit of leave I could squeeze out, and called in every favour I could, to keep her off when ill. I've lost pay from having to take unpaid leave, I've worked through evenings and weekends to make up some of the time I've lost. I've slept very little and to be honest I've felt like my job (and my sanity!) has been hanging by a thread.

But sure, take your sick kid swimming because you're a bit bored.

youshouldnthaveasked · 02/02/2023 10:21

Definitely CFer territory.

DeoForty · 02/02/2023 10:23

I don't really see an issue with the hotel break, but I wouldn't let someone who has had the scoots use a pool.

Shgytfgtf111 · 02/02/2023 10:26

DD could be back tomorrow, but DS still has to stay off regardless.

I think this should say DD will be back tomorrow. Although if she had a bad stomach all day it could well be a bug and not just 'beef' thats the issue. Either way, be sensible and dont risk giving it to others.

Reallybadidea · 02/02/2023 10:26

I don't think you should be taking them out for the day. I also don't think school should be stopping your dd attending on the basis of her brother having one runny poo.

Kanaloa · 02/02/2023 10:31

takealettermsjones · 02/02/2023 10:15

He's not in nappies. He's six and had diarrhoea such that he couldn't make it to the bathroom in time. He has been told to leave for 48 hours.

Show quote history

I didn’t say he was in nappies. I said generally in childcare we would require 3 instances of diarrhea to send the child home. As I said, I wouldn’t take him swimming just in case, but I think people are acting like op is dragging a child who is spewing vomit and diarrhea for a weekend away. She is seeking opinions which obviously means she is considering it carefully, so why say things like she has brain issues/is stupid and selfish etc? How does that help at all, what does that gain?

Thesearmsofmine · 02/02/2023 10:31

You are being unreasonable and selfish and you know it. Unless you can be 100% sure if is not a bug(which you can’t be). Take them for a countryside walk if you are bored, not to a busy place to potentially infect other people.

takealettermsjones · 02/02/2023 10:34

Kanaloa · 02/02/2023 10:31

I didn’t say he was in nappies. I said generally in childcare we would require 3 instances of diarrhea to send the child home. As I said, I wouldn’t take him swimming just in case, but I think people are acting like op is dragging a child who is spewing vomit and diarrhea for a weekend away. She is seeking opinions which obviously means she is considering it carefully, so why say things like she has brain issues/is stupid and selfish etc? How does that help at all, what does that gain?

Show quote history

Right, but loose nappies is wholly different from a six year old with explosive diarrhoea.

I didn't say she was stupid or has brain issues. She would absolutely be selfish to do this though.

Kanaloa · 02/02/2023 10:38

takealettermsjones · 02/02/2023 10:34

Right, but loose nappies is wholly different from a six year old with explosive diarrhoea.

I didn't say she was stupid or has brain issues. She would absolutely be selfish to do this though.

Show quote history

Another poster did - that she has ‘too few brain cells’ to understand. To me that’s just pointless to say. It’s not like she is dragging out a seriously ill child - she didn’t think he was too ill but wanted to seek opinions of what others would do. I said I probably wouldn’t because it may just have been irritation but it may be a bug. Posters calling her stupid etc isn’t actually helpful.

Kanaloa · 02/02/2023 10:38

And if she was so selfish she wouldn’t have asked. She’d just have packed them up and gone off to the pool.

takealettermsjones · 02/02/2023 10:40

Kanaloa · 02/02/2023 10:38

Another poster did - that she has ‘too few brain cells’ to understand. To me that’s just pointless to say. It’s not like she is dragging out a seriously ill child - she didn’t think he was too ill but wanted to seek opinions of what others would do. I said I probably wouldn’t because it may just have been irritation but it may be a bug. Posters calling her stupid etc isn’t actually helpful.

Show quote history

Okay, well ask those posters why they said that then. I can't answer for them ☺️

RealBecca · 02/02/2023 10:41

He has had an episode of diarrhoea!! It doesnt matter that you think its beef or that he has had a solid poo.

If you think its beef try him on it again on a saturday.

Dont take him out to a pool. Kids will be just as happy with the telly on so dont be selfish and go on a mini break because it's what you want to do and have found a good deal. Ridiculous.

R0ckets · 02/02/2023 10:47

Kanaloa · 02/02/2023 10:38

And if she was so selfish she wouldn’t have asked. She’d just have packed them up and gone off to the pool.

It selfish though because these are the sort of people we've all encountered and I'm sure we've all got ill because of people like the OP who think the rules don't apply to them because of X, Y or Z. Chances are she will indeed take them but even if she does not it's selfish to think it's even remotely acceptable just because she is bored.

Although I'm sceptical that it is the beef surely by 9 and 6 the OP and indeed her childewnwould have realised if eating beef makes them feel unwell.

JustKeepSlimming · 02/02/2023 10:52

I'd get DD back to school tomorrow if she's fine today. Talk to your doctor about DS if you think he has a beef intolerance, but on this occasion keep him off for the extra day. If the doctor is able to get you a beef intolerance diagnosis, then in future you'll be able to make sure this doesn't happen again - either by avoiding beef for him, or at least knowing that that's the likely cause.

RosieLemonadeAndSugar · 02/02/2023 10:57

I'd take them away ... just no swimming.

Dreamstosell · 02/02/2023 10:58

I work in a school nursery and we don’t send home for a single episode of diarrhoea unless they appeared unwell

Conkersinautumn · 02/02/2023 11:05

Obviously you've gone with option C. Start an argument on MN for entertainment just go if you're not interested in the validation of randoms on the Internet at your choices

Original poster
TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 02/02/2023 11:06

Conkersinautumn · 02/02/2023 11:05

Obviously you've gone with option C. Start an argument on MN for entertainment just go if you're not interested in the validation of randoms on the Internet at your choices

Sorry what do you mean by option C?

OP posts:
youshouldnthaveasked · 02/02/2023 11:09

Instead of a city break can you go somewhere in the open air like a nice country walk?

Blughbablugh · 02/02/2023 11:10

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 02/02/2023 09:56

I am absolutely convinced it’s not a bug - he hasn’t been sick, no temperature, no more diarrhoea. Beef gives me the squits, I have to avoid it and never make it at home, I’m wondering if DS is the same.

Show quote history

My ds had a sickness bug a couple of weeks ago and both my dh and myself got it but just had a bit of diorrhea. So I'd say it could absolutely be a bug and no it wouldn't be good to take them on a mini break to spread it around!

Chiasmi · 02/02/2023 11:13

You can't be certain diarrhoea is not infectious. With them both having digestive symptoms, unless half the school is also off with "beef poisoning" I think you have to assume they both have a mild tummy bug.

At 9 I'd be tempted to keep your daughter home too, but I absolutely wouldn't take them anywhere they'd be touching things, mixing with people or using public toilets.

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 02/02/2023 11:14

It might be the beef. It might be a bug. You dont know. And until you do know for sure yes you would be unreasonable for going somewhere you could spread it. You can surely still go on a city break 48 hours after the episode of diarrhea surely?

And a 'solid poo' isnt the same as being non contagious.

I'd use the time off to check your theory on beef and give him some to eat whilst he is close to a toilet

TwoPointFourCatsAndDogs · 02/02/2023 11:16

Take them, life’s too short and kids grow up way to fast.

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