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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Does anyone else’s DC get ill whenever you have something planned/booked?

5 replies

Sophiablue95 · 22/11/2025 09:51

Wondering if we've just been unlucky or if it’s it’s just dc or myself who get ill just before you have something big booked of plans?

Single mum with 2ds (4 and 20mo). Poor ds2 has had 2 chest infections and 8 bouts of mostly bacterial tonsillitis in the last 6 months. Gp yesterday who confirmed tonsillitis and prescribed antibiotics. We ended up in A&E last night as he started coughing uncontrollably, wheezing and sucking in inbetween his neck (he was admitted with a chest infection last month hence the worry). They thought it was croup at first but then said viral.

Tomorrow I was due to meet one of my old friends/ex colleagues who I haven’t seen in over 6 years (works abroad). They are only here on a layover for one day so no chance to reschedule. Had babysitting planned and was really looking forward to having a good catch up and a few hours childfree time. However ds2 has been up all night coughing and crying so I’ve had to cancel. He does seem better this morning but still not his usual self so I have told my friend I will need to cancel.

Other examples include my birthday where I had planned a night out with another friend. It would have been my first night out in over 4 years. Day before ds2 came down with tonsillitis so had to cancel.

Two UK trips, one was cancelled due to us all coming down with norovirus, the other due to tonsillitis again.

I have booked for us to go to Amsterdam next month (just a ferry crossing) but I’m already considering the likelihood that one of us will come down with something just before so we will have to cancel.

Money is tight and it’s making me not want to arrange anything costly in advance. Ds1 dad regularly disappears on long holidays (currently away and missed his weekend with ds1), ds2 dad has moved abroad so it all falls on me.

Please tell me it’s not just me!

OP posts:
SparkyBlue · 22/11/2025 11:04

With mine it was like clockwork. Christmas Eve, birthdays , wedding anniversaries. The day of a friends 40th birthday party the gp sent us to a&e with DD as she had bronchiolitis and he was worried about her. The week we were moving house the same thing but DS this time. My sil was due to mind DC to let us pack but DS had to go to the gp with very high temps that we couldn’t get down and he sent us to a&e. And I’ve about a million other examples. I honestly used to think I was loosing my mind and I was convinced people thought I was making it up. I totally empathise OP. On a positive note now they are older they are all very healthy

Sophiablue95 · 22/11/2025 17:23

I’m sorry to hear it’s not just me! It really is like clockwork. I think I’ll have to just accept having no childfree social life unless it’s last minute, but then again it’s finding the childcare.

My friend specifically swapped a flight (cabin crew) to visit and now I have to cancel. Feel really bad but cant be helped. I’m sure people think I’m making it up too as an excuse.

Thats a nightmare on your week of moving! 😫having said that my car broke literally on the way to move into my new flat so guess I’m just an all around unlucky person haha.

OP posts:
Maryberrysbouffant · 22/11/2025 17:31

My DS used to get ill every time we went on holiday! Not catching something on the plane either, he would come down with something a day or two prior, every year! The one time I was worried they wouldn’t let him travel as he was clearly unwell (standard childhood virus) and I was dosing him up with calpol in the airport loo an hour before boarding 😬

Kpo58 · 22/11/2025 17:32

My DD always gets ill around her birthday which is in the spring. 🤦🏻‍♀️

purser25 · 22/11/2025 17:34

No children but my 100 year old Mother is often not well if u have something planned. Don’t go on holiday now so at least they don’t get cancelled but it was getting to it before I stopped going away.

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