Chickenpox during the holidays :(

[LuckyMoonstone]

DS 4yrs has chicken pox, obviously this was going to happen eventually but what crap timing! I’ve had to cancel loads of nice Easter activities we were supposed to do, I feel terrible for him. Physically he seems fine, just a bit tired, but it’s such a shame to have to keep him cooped up. At least if it was during term time he wouldn’t be missing out on much. I’ve had to explain to him why we can’t do any of the nice things we had planned for this weekend and next week- Easter egg hunts, swimming, play dates with friends. I feel awful.
If it was just him it wouldn’t be so bad but I also have a 1.5 year old who is now stuck at home with us!
He should be out of the contagious period around Thursday I think, but I’m not sure. And I doubt anyone with little kids will want to risk meeting up with us.
Im thinking I might be ok to take him to the park, if it’s not too busy and he won’t be really close to other children? Or is that too risky for others?
Just wanted to vent really, I’m so annoyed that our lovely plans have had to go down the drain :(

We just took him out for a go on his scooter- quiet estate behind our house, streets totally empty… suspect everyone is in the pub garden!

The Chicken pox virus can reactivate in people over 60 in another way, triggering giant cell arteritis
So as i say can be very dangerous to older people.
Children with Chicken Pox should stay away from Elderly people when they have the virus

OP- You said you are pregnant! Have you had chicken pox yourself before?

I'm sorry this happened over Easter, but this is now the last time you'll deal with it (get your other child vaccinated if they don't get it, although surely they will). You won't be the first person to have chicken pox happen at an inconvenient time (just before a holiday abroad, or their own birthday party etc.!) and you won't be the last - don't feel bad, you have plenty of lovely Easters ahead of you xx

@Darkclothes yes don’t worry! I wouldn’t have thrown that in there so flippantly 😅

@ChiliFiend thank you, I know in the grand scheme of things the kids won’t care (or remember)

Its just Easter
Lucky for you, you didnt have older toddlers and older children climbing the walls during the Covid Lockdowns

It's a shame when they're poorly in the school holidays. Hope he's feeling better soon.

ok it’s just Easter… I’m allowed to feel disappointed in my own situation

I wouldn’t bother keeping your 2 DC apart, better for them to get it at the same time and get it over with. If the youngest doesn’t get it maybe consider vaccinating.
You can’t go to the park until fully scabbed over,
not so much the risk to other DC but it’s very bad for pregnant women.
Getting it in the holidays is bad but could be worse if you had booked to go away, and at least you don’t need to cover childcare while they can’t go to school/nursery

Exposure to chickenpox can help boost the immune system in those that have had it and it can help prevent it reactivating as shingles.

@LuckyMoonstone your ds would have been contagious before the spots came out so I wouldn't bother trying to keep the kids apart from each other.

If he feels up to it I would definitely be getting him out of the house. You could play football or Frisbee or catch in a big open space. Other kids who have had chicken pox might be up for play dates too.

Its not great, but as you said OP, they are young and hopefully won't remember. I was 12 and got blisters everywhere. I vividly recall them inside my labia, which as you can imagine, was horrific. 😱

@Darkclothes Jeez 😬😬😬😬
I was 11 but I don’t remember how I felt at all, not that bad for sure!

For what its worth @LuckyMoonstone you can definitely make being home fun- we've just made some cakes with my four year old, it was her favourite day of the holiday. Get the playdough and some rolling pins, get the paints out, play pairs, build a den in the living room... there is lots you can still do.Just make a note of the day your first got spots because your second will get theirs two weeks to the day in 90% of cases. Plan for child two to be contagious in a week and a half for around ten days.