The older my daughter gets (5 currently), the more she's developing a penchant for drama, and it's making it harder to tell whether she's bouncing back from an illness or actually still sick. Case in point - she was very sluggish all day Saturday (unusual for her), and by late afternoon, had a 102 fever coupled with a sore throat. Got diagnosed with strep on Sunday morning, and I think there may be a virus in there as well because she's raspy and has a bit of a phlegmy cough. Fever broke on its own midday Sunday, she's been on antibiotics since Sunday evening (first dose), and we kept her home yesterday and again today. She's sleeping fine, eating fine, drinking fine, playing fine, still a bit raspy, but otherwise healthwise she seems OK, but she refuses to leave the house and keeps complaining that she's still sick and acting clingy, but it also feels like it may be more drama than actual health because all other indicators seem normal. So we're trying to decide if we should send her back to preK tomorrow and normally we'd just use the "no fever for 24+ hours, no physical complaints" rule, but I can't decide if she's trying to tell us something here or just being extra clingy and thus dramatic (and the clinginess has been in high effect lately regardless of illness). Would love outside perspectives.
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I totally have this kid! It’s tough and I suppose we go case by case but try not to let her skip school without a fever. Occasionally I give in though if she seems super tired and I don’t mind her being home ... that sounds selfish but it’s honestly part of my decision process!
Given she’s been home two days I would probably send her. I often say she needs to go try ... if you feel really sick there they can call me. She’s never followed through (kind of shy but I think mostly she just gets distracted and feels fine) so that technique you have to gauge based on your kid!! She’s a super clinger so I do just have to force her to go a fair amount even this past year of kinder.
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Hmm I always keep in mind our daycare has the regular rules about fever and vomiting and whatnot, but also that the child must be well enough to participate in activities. Case in point, two weeks ago DS seemed clingy and whiny one morning and just a little out of sorts. No fever or other symptoms so we sent him. I picked him up at regular time and he was just sitting there to the side while the kids were outside playing which he normally loves. Few hours later he’s got a low fever, early bed and vomiting next day. I felt guilty for sending him even though it was a mild bug, thinking he was feeling crappy all day but not really ‘sick’ according to the rules and should have been at home.
I usually give an extra day where he’s off the couch playing and back to pretty much normal before I send him unless we are really in a pinch for one of us to be home.
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@Mrs. Carrot: my daughter is 6 and goes through dramatic phases. We are usually able to know is she is really ill by offering a fun option like going outside to het favorite park or going to get a dessert. Usually if she is really ill she doesnt care about doing anything and will say no. If she perks up and really wants to do it then DH will say oh no she is too sick to go and usually that brings the truth out
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@bhbee: I don't think it sounds selfish at all. DH and I are lucky to have pretty flexible jobs and this week is quieter for both of us, so we took turns staying home and had it been busier we might have even sent her today because she's been fever free for a full day, and seemed like her usual self yesterday barring the not wanting to go anywhere. It's just become harder to read signs - we usually go by her energy levels, which are usually fairly high, and we're struggling to tell if she's playing up being sick and tired or it's actually a physical issue still.
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@muffinsmuffins: That's totally fair and I think she actually would be jumping in with things at school, but since she's home with just us parents, she doesn't have that natural distraction. But that's also what makes it hard to tell whether it's because she's actually sick or just doesn't feel like engaging with her parents.
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@Mrsbells: Hah, that's a great tactic. I just got a photo of her and DH at McD's so it sounds like some kind of incentive worked lol
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@Mrsbells: @Mrs. Carrot: We do the same thing. DS1 gets migraines and yes, I know those suck but sometimes I know that he really just wants attention. Usually when he tells me that he's sick, I tell him that he needs to go lay in bed and no tv since truthfully, tv does make his headaches worse. If he agrees, he's sick. 9 times out of 10, he miraculously is feeling better!
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DS is 5 and when he wants to just stay home he will say he's sick. I hate this because then I have to try and figure out if he really is. Usually I say we will have to go back to bed and that changes his mind. Other times I'll start talking about something that interests him and he'll start to get enthusiastic so I know he's not sick and he'll willingly go out the door.
I would send her back tomorrow if she seems to be fine.
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Usually, I see if “medicine” (honey mixed with water) or a warm magic bag (for random pains) makes her feel better. If she stops complaining, I know that she just wanted some sympathy.
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