To think it’s so selfish to take sick kids out in public places

[picturethispatsy]

Just this week alone I’ve had to sit with my immune-compromised child on a train and in a theatre near very obviously sick kids constantly coughing and visibly poorly with bright red cheeks/clearly running a fever.

Caveat: I know that there are occasions where you have to go out and run an errand or something similar & have no-one to leave said child with, but why would you take a very obviously poorly kid to the theatre (two adults and two children so one could’ve stayed at home), not least as it’s unfair to the child but also how selfish to knowingly spread a virus!? Especially in the run up to Xmas FFS.

I realise we can’t shield ourselves from every virus going and it’s part of being human to catch them but there is a difference between inadvertently spreading one and knowingly exposing others 😭

Do people genuinely not think or are they just that selfish?

West Aussie here. We are encouraged to keep sick children home from school and stay away from workplace when unwell. Not a fan of the UK approach.

Medical grade masks do work to protect the wearer though.

So to conclude my thread as I’m closing down MN for the holidays, some people think I’m unreasonable and a lot don’t (shocker).

Some people prioritise health and some money. We are all different I guess and have different priorities. Personally I’d rather lose some money than take a poorly child out into an indoor public place but perhaps I speak from a place of financial privilege and others speak from a place of health privilege.
Either way, thanks everyone for your input and Merry Christmas to all 🎄 🎅🏻 💖

Honestly don’t see what the big deal is, it should just be normalised in society as common courtesy, on public transport etc. I guess it still doesn’t stop the asymptomatic spread though ie before people develop symptoms. Might make people who need to avoid risk of getting sick feel a bit less worried sitting in front of someone on a train who’s coughing. Just wear a mask indoors if you’re symptomatic, it’s not a hardship.

To be fair . I wouldn't keep mine at home with just a cold , anything more I would but running nose and streaming eyes I wouldn't as basically we'd be at home all winter.
If it's any consolation I semi work in this are abs the flu peak this year is estimated to happen 3 weeks earlier than usual around the first week of jam so hopefully we're nearing the worst of it.

Honestly my kid has had a snotty nose since she started nursery in September. If we did as you asked we'd never leave the house.

I have a lot of sympathy but coughs and colds last for weeks, if you didn’t do things with them you would miss so much.
the Christmas activities cost a huge amount and need to be booked well in advance often/ dates can’t be changed so can see why they don’t want to cancel unless really necessary.