Attention, all parents of young children. Please do not send your sick child to school. Just in case you were unaware, the child could get others sick.
It seems like year after year one of our children comes down with a coughing fit. I have narrowed it down to between the ages of three and six. This is the time that they are still in preschool or kindergarten. I am not sure if you have noticed, but at these ages youngsters are still getting the hang of covering their mouths when they cough, sneeze or belch.
I could feel something in the air when my five-year-old and I walked into his preschool class last week. A little boy was using the palm of his hand to drive the toy trucks while simultaneously wiping his nose with the other. When that hand got too wet, he would reach for and grab the truck with the wet hand and start wiping away with the dry hand.
I politely let the teacher know about the little germ incubator. She put the toy in isolation. I wanted her to do the same to the boy.
How did he get in here, anyway? I thought we were not allowed to bring runny-nosed, sneezing or coughing kids to school. I guess I am the only one who follows that rule.
I explained to my son not to get too close to the children who were “sick” today. After all, Mommy has a busy schedule and can’t be up at midnight trying to stop a cough or runny nose. He shook his head, and off he went to play.
Five days later, I was awakened at three o’clock in the morning with a loud barking sound, which resembled a baby seal.
“Mommmmyyyy, my mouth won’t stop coughing,” I heard, in a wee little voice coming from the foot of my bed.
Of course, they never wake up their father.
By day six, we were in the doctor’s office. My son needed antibiotics. He was sick.
Really, I thought to myself. I came all this way for you to tell me that.
It happens every year. The winter comes, the illnesses increase and somewhere out there a little boy or girl passes on their “cold” to their best friend.
Being the mother that I am, I will not send my coughing son to school until the doctor okays it. But I might send that runny-nosed boy a lump of coal next Christmas. Just kidding.
Cough, Cough. I think I am coming down with it. See what I mean?
Thanks for sharing.
