Teacher has flu - WWYD

[California]

If I got an email like that from a teacher that specifically mentioned the flu, I would think that the teacher was giving parents a heads up that their child has most likely ALREADY been exposed to the flu. The teacher may very well have caught it from a student. He may have wanted parents to be on the look out for flu symptoms in their kids. He didn’t have to share that info (and he’ll think twice in the future, I bet.)

If you and your DH are going to stress over germs, you are going to be stressed all the time. I think that’s why PP are suggesting working in your own response- it’s the one thing in your control. (And lots of hand washing!) As you are finding, kids get sick in classrooms. This is normal. They may start off fine in the morning, and then throw up or get a fever. They may cough, and sneeze, and pick their boogery noses and touch things. You could try homeschooling, but you’d have to stay in your house because people in public do all this stuff too. I bet though with time you’ll start to adapt to this as your kid will get older and she’ll probably start, like most kids, to get a stronger immune system. That’s the positive side to the exposure!

[PZMommy]

I will add, I had severe anxiety over illnesses as well. My DS was hospitalized numerous times for RSV. He was a 3 week old preemie and he was hooked up to a ventilator, and doctors told me they weren’t sure he would make it through the night. That was just the first of many such hospitalizations. I still cringe every time I hear someone in public or in my classroom with that RSV cough. It is such a distinguished cough, I can hear it a mile away. My DS had to start seeing specialists at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, to start figuring out why he was having some many issues with his lungs. I spent so many years in fear every time I heard anyone cough, as I had such anxiety over him getting sick. I sought out help, and it really made a difference. What was the biggest help when my DS actually got the flu last year and seeing that he came through it just fine. It was a rough week, and we had to do high doses of his meds, but now that he is older and stronger, and his wonderful doctors at CHLA have him on a good plan, it really wasn’t that bad.

As a teacher we are in a tough spot. We have to use our days sparingly because you never know when you or your kid will get sick. If I want to attend an event at my kids’ school, I have to use sick days. I can’t tell you when I actually used a sick day for myself being sick. Probably not for at least the last five years. My sick days are always used for having to stay home with my kids or going to events at their school. We have no family nearby, and both DH and I are teachers, so we are in a tough spot. Unless my kid is throwing up or has a fever, they are at school. I don’t have the luxury to keep them home just because they have a cold. Plus the school district is super strict about kids missing school as well. The district only gets money if kids are in school, so when kids are out sick, the district loses funding. They come down hard when kids miss more than 5 days the entire year.

[TwinFoxes]

We do think it’s irresponsible for teachers or kids to go to school (or work) when sick in general. This is a strongly held belief for us in terms of protecting others and one that I know other cultures practice but is sadly often lacking in the US.

But you were also really upset at a parent last year who greeted you from several feet away, outdoors, during drop off and pick up. This isn't a matter of people should stay home when they're sick. (I actually do agree that there's some sort of obsession with pushing through and going to work. I have to twist DH's arm to stay home, and he has PLENTY of sick leave and is high up in his company.) I think the reason people are mentioning anxiety because it's not just the flu, you worry about things like radiation from Japan. My dad was super paranoid growing up, and it was not fun.

[mom_hanna]

Your child was already exposed if the teacher has the flu. And when I tested positive for Influenza A last month, I started on Tamiflu and was told after 24 hours on Tamiflu you are no longer contagious. I am not a teacher but took 3 days off work and then went back. Couldn't afford to take the whole week and figured if I wasn't contagious then I was going back to work. So far, no one else in my office has come down with the flu.

[niccig]

With all the discussion about this teacher’s flu, I hope someone took them chicken soup!


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