While I enjoy the routines of school and the return to schedules I definitely don’t enjoy the exposure to sickness that comes with school. The first note of strep throat in the classroom came home yesterday. Then at curriculum night yesterday one of the parents actually asked the teacher when it was okay to let your child come to school when they weren’t feeling well.

For all those parents who wonder this the answer is simple. When you know your child isn’t feeling well you keep them home. Often they are contagious before a fever and before what they have has been identified. Most school districts have a common rule of a child being fever free for 24 hours before returning to school, another common sense item yet I’m often amazed at how many parents share stories of doping their kids up on Tylenol before school to mask the symptoms. Not cool.

I wouldn’t say I’m an extremist parent in this regard, but I have been known to keep my child home for their own safety if they had signs of a simple cold, etc. just to make sure they didn’t get something worse. I would say that I think most parents miss the boat on this issue entirely waiting until a fever breaks before keeping a child home. If more were aware of them being “off” or feeling a little under the weather I’d bet we’d keep our kids healthier overall and nip contagious illness in the bud more often.

It’s not all bad, exposure to illness means stronger immunity too. I’m okay with that, but I’m not okay with irresponsible parents. Their lack of consideration and awareness affect so many other kids and their educations. I wish they could see that.

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