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Original poster

Chickenpox School Drama

63 replies

Deidres · 07/11/2023 13:14

Someone please tell me I’m not insane
(NC for this)

My eldest (DS5) is in reception and had Chickenpox about 6 weeks ago. Had two weeks off school.

my youngest DS (26m) has now got it, usually goes to nursery but obviously is off. It’s very mild to the point I doubted it would be CP but the GP Has said it is and sometimes it can incubate for that long.

one of the mums from the WhatsApp class group has text me saying it’s not appropriate for me to bring my oldest DC in? Her argument was that there are a few of them with very young babies/newborns and it could be dangerous if they got it. My oldest shouldn’t be going in because he is “in contact” with it and could pass it on to their kids who could subsequently pass on to baby siblings.

When I said this isn’t going to happen (politely) she told me that I’m already looking after youngest so what’s the difference with another at home? I told her that’s not the point when DS5 has already missed plenty of school due to having chickenpox himself.

Now there is a passive aggressive reminder on the WhatsApp group reminding everyone to “be considerate of other families” not to send their children to school if they are unwell… not from the same mum but another one who she is good friends with

seriosuly? DS isn’t even ill , his brother is! And he’s had it so really unlikely he will pass it on.

Tell me this is batshit please because it’s really wound me up

OP posts:
Original poster
Deidres · 07/11/2023 13:15

At least middle child happily off to nursery and causing me no bother for once!

OP posts:
Finteq · 07/11/2023 13:16

They are batshit crazy

If your kid has had then they will be immune. They're more likely to get it from someone else at the school who hasnt had it yet.

TeddyBeans · 07/11/2023 13:17

This is why I hate school WhatsApp groups. Full of busybodies all up in everyone else's business. For the sake of shutting them up, I'd confirm with school that you're in the right for allowing DS to go to school and then tell them to mind their own

Jackiebrambles · 07/11/2023 13:17

What? Your DS has had it, he can’t pass it on can he? So why would you keep him off?? Have I misunderstood…

LadyOfACertainAge · 07/11/2023 13:17

Nah YANBU.

In fact he was most infectious before he had his own two weeks off so if they didn’t get it then they are unlikely to get it now.

dementedpixie · 07/11/2023 13:18

They're crazy. Of course your child is ok to go to school as he is not the one with CP.

2jacqi · 07/11/2023 13:19

kids are going to get those diseases no matter what you do! cannot avoid them forever. very very rare to become ill

BettyBakesCakes · 07/11/2023 13:19

Hahahaha no. Have a chat with school. Maybe they can send out a reminder of when you should and shouldn't keep kids off.

Jackiebrambles · 07/11/2023 13:19

Also who the fuck does she think she is, saying you already have a child at home so it doesn’t make any difference!

InTheRainOnATrain · 07/11/2023 13:20

They sound a bit thick as well completely loony. Your DS has immunity, from his recent infection. Also if they are that worried about then they could get their older kids vaccinated.

Mazuslongtoenail · 07/11/2023 13:21

Lol. I’m sure the school attendance lead would love a kid to be off with ‘sibling chicken pox’ when they already had it themselves.

Raindancer411 · 07/11/2023 13:21

He has had it has immunity, he is fine to go in. Just ignore them

Nothanksthanksanyway · 07/11/2023 13:21

Total batshit. Playgroup mafia. Ignore.

PuttingDownRoots · 07/11/2023 13:22

Your child is probably one of the safer ones to be around currently!

You can get chicken pox more than once, but straight after would be pretty much impossible I believe!

Crunchymum · 07/11/2023 13:22

How does the reception class WhatsApp know your youngest has CP?

Smugandproud · 07/11/2023 13:23

I’d be asking her to list her medical qualifications.
She’s nuts.

minisoksmakehardwork · 07/11/2023 13:23

Your eldest has had CP and is now back at school. Anything other than the child who is actually ill/contagious being off is bat shit crazy.

It's not Leprosy. It is a childhood disease and if the school wish to invoke any other isolating rules (if for example they have a child with an immunity issue which would cause them problems) then the school, not parents, is responsible for communicating that to parents.

Yes, there are some children/adults for whom catching chicken pox would be problematic. But in the same way they are unlikely to hide away from the world, just in case, a person who is otherwise well and through the contagious period shouldn't have to either. Otherwise no one would ever go anywhere.

Unfortunately there are a lot of people who think anyone who is ill or who comes into regular contact with an ill person should stay away from anyone else, and ring their bell while shouting unclean.

Crunchymum · 07/11/2023 13:24

Deidres · 07/11/2023 13:15

At least middle child happily off to nursery and causing me no bother for once!

I wouldn't count your chickens just yet (you may well have a 3rd DC come down with it at some point!)

Hadjab · 07/11/2023 13:24

Crunchymum · 07/11/2023 13:22

How does the reception class WhatsApp know your youngest has CP?

It's highly possible that some of the mum's have children in Reception and the same class as OP's oldest...

Original poster
Deidres · 07/11/2023 13:25

Jackiebrambles · 07/11/2023 13:19

Also who the fuck does she think she is, saying you already have a child at home so it doesn’t make any difference!

I think this is the bit that’s annoyed me the most! I’ve had to use so much leave because DH is away for work and ILs are immunocompromised so it’s not like I have utter disregard for anyone else!

It’s hardly been a jolly old time for me, but hey let’s just keep another one off for no reason because a random lady whose kids go to school with mine told me I should

OP posts:
Jackiebrambles · 07/11/2023 13:26

Ignore, she’s a massive cheeky fucker and also batshit.

fireworksmyass · 07/11/2023 13:26

do you do the school runs with all of them?

InTheRainOnATrain · 07/11/2023 13:26

Also - has batshit texting mum offered to pay the likely non attendance fine? ‘Sibling chickenpox’ definitely isn’t something you would get authorised. Maybe you could ask her to confirm?!

IaltagDhubh · 07/11/2023 13:27

I was totally paranoid about chicken pox when my two were that age because DD1 was finishing cancer treatment. When it was going around at nursery and school I would keep them both at home. DD2 was vaccinated. Even I think it’s batshit to keep a kid at home who has already had it! DD1 caught it when she was about 7, no idea where from because no one else had it at school at that point. She was absolutely fine.

Tryingtryingandtrying · 07/11/2023 13:27

Replace chicken pox with Covid, rewind 2 years and its obvious where this type of thought and behaviour pattern has come from.

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