https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:35:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909942 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 21:23:06 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2909942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would totally skip it. Just not worth it. I get so stressed about vacations and travel and having it be ruined by illness. But then over Christmas we all got norovirus or something similarly horrid even though I refused to take the kids public swimming because I KNEW the germs would be rampant...we still got it. And I bleached my house myself and had it professionally cleaned, didn’t go anywhere until well after everyone recovered and we still possibly passed it to 6 other adults 😳 SO if I had the choice to know they were all sick and avoid going to the germs, I would. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909909 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 14:14:54 +0000 LCTBQE 2909909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: literally did the exact same thing with my son for the same reason. The worst part is that she could still get Flu B :meh: have fun skiing!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909905 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 13:59:11 +0000 honeybear 2909905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Eek, no way would I send my child, vacation or not. And honestly I'd probably talk to the leader if it's likely that others don't know and she might not tell them. Sometimes people need a gentle reminder, and others are just clueless. There's got to be a way to say something diplomatically. Everyone should be considerate and take extra--inconvenient, even!--precautions not to share their germs when they are likely still contagious (and a family whose kids came down with the flu last Wednesday is definitely in that category), even if it causes some minor scheduling difficulties or whatever to cancel/reschedule. The disruption caused by days of illness (never mind a potential hospitalization!) for families is much, MUCH worse. Being sick is no fun for anyone and it's dangerous or deadly for some. </p> <p>Anyhow, you're not being paranoid. A person with the flu can still be contagious for 5-7 days after they've gotten sick and if they still have symptoms or are little kids, the period can be longer. Plenty of people are still coughing/sneezing long after they feel much better. A kid who got sick on Wednesday is still in the window today, and since we're talking about going to their home, it's worth noting that the rest of that family is in the incubation period and you are contagious the day before you start to feel sick. Hard pass on the Girl Scout meeting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909900 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 13:27:37 +0000 JJ2626 2909900@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’d skip it mostly because of your trip. The trip seems way more important. That said, I’d hope the host cleaned her house and everyone is well before having everyone over! I’m having my daughters small bday party thus weekend and we were both sick until today. Not the flu (another mystery virus) but still-I have my house cleaner coming this week and will definitely cancel if we are still sick at all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909899 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 13:24:43 +0000 shabang 2909899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd probably just miss it to be safe with a vacation this coming weekend. </p> <p>My daughter had the flu (yes, we get shots), and after that passed, I was still running around cleaning everything in our house for days because it's still contagious after the fever is gone and can live on hard surfaces for 24 hours. </p> <p>I can't imagine having kids over right after, how overwhelming! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909894 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 11:43:48 +0000 PinkElephant 2909894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jennlin821: I might be the only parent who knows the circumstances 😬 I’m sure she feels her kids are”healthy now” or is sending the sick ones to grandma’s house, and doesn’t want to inconvenience people by rescheduling...so I feel like it’s probably overstepping to ask why she doesn’t reschedule (though I wish she would!)</p> <p>ETA: overstepping TO ask her, not that YOU asked me - silly autocorrect! 🤪 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909893 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 11:15:49 +0000 jennlin821 2909893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would definentally skip - and you can't be the only parent questioning this. Can't you reach out to the scout leader and ask her to post-pone or cancel? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909891 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 11:01:42 +0000 graceandjoy 2909891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh my oldest totally got the flu after going to a birthday party aka germ fest! Pretty much everyone I know has gotten the flu by now and most people I know al got flu shots. </p> <p>I would probably cancel any non-essential outings/gatherings. Then again, I have a newborn at home so I’ve been extra strict. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909876 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 08:46:43 +0000 DesertDreams88 2909876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would definitely skip. A girl scout meeting is not worth ruining a pre-paid ski trip. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909872 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 07:11:28 +0000 gotkimchi 2909872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man I guess we’re lucky it’s not worse by us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909871 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 06:49:55 +0000 Foodnerd81 2909871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: oh it’s at the home of one of the flu cases? Yes I would skip. It’s one meeting, not a big deal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909868 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 04:35:36 +0000 charm55 2909868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: that’s super interesting, I love hearing how things are run in other places. 2x a month sounds lovely - we are every week and while I have helpers, I’m the only one who does the planning and organizing so it can be a lot. If your Daisies ever wanted to swap letters with my Sparks, I know my girls would love to do so! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909867 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 01:04:20 +0000 bees_knees 2909867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: @PinkElephant: We got our flu shots and 4 of us got influenza B. Mine was mild(ish) but DS1 was out of school for an entire week :meh: Flu is BAD this year here. So is norovirus, but we’ve dodged that bullet so far (knocking on allll the wood)</p> <p>FWIW, I’d skip! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909866 Sun, 09 Feb 2020 23:27:13 +0000 PinkElephant 2909866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: your poor LO! And ew ew ew OMG ew!! Yes, we are still neighbors. That’s insane about all the flu, but I believe it having heard anecdotal evidence from school attendance offices. My second grader got sent home from school last week with a “fever” (I never got it to register on our thermometer at home), and I kept her out the next day partially to be a stickler about school fever rules, and partially bc I saw how many kids had signed out sick ahead of her and wanted to wait until the classroom deep clean the nurse requested had happened 😷😷😷</p> <p>Can I get three child-sized germicidal hazmat bubbles, please?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909864 Sun, 09 Feb 2020 23:18:18 +0000 LCTBQE 2909864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: assuming you haven’t moved and I’m still a few towns away from you. Last weekend my 18-month old got flu A, and yes she got the shot in the fall. Our peds (huge office that half of our town seems to go to) told me last Monday that 80% (!!!) of their sick patients in the past week prior were testing positive for flu, both A and B. My daughter was pretty sick but only for 4 days, probably not worse thanks to the shot, but it was still miserable. Not to try and fill you with anecdotal panic, but I wouldn’t mess with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909862 Sun, 09 Feb 2020 22:57:11 +0000 Mama Bird 2909862@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't send her, in your shoes! I don't know how effective the flu shot is this year, but last year it wasn't fully protective. So one of my kids got the flu, and the next day went to an event where he might have exposed others before we realized it was more than a cold (his symptoms were relatively mild). And he was definitely contagious - the rest of the family all got it, except for the one kid who got Tamiflu before developing symptoms.</p> <p>We're still going to all the kids' regular activities, but if I heard that the flu is going around in one of their optional activities, I'd probably have them take a couple of weeks' break from it. It's bad enough that it's going around school... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909861 Sun, 09 Feb 2020 22:56:14 +0000 LemonJack 2909861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: You’re definitely not being crazy! I’m surprised the mom is still hosting if her family had the flu last week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909860 Sun, 09 Feb 2020 22:30:05 +0000 bhbee 2909860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: @Foodnerd81: same here with flu still being rampant despite shots. last year, oldest's 1st grade class got wiped out (DD included) and I think most were vaccinated, we definitely were, and her case was pretty mild, probably helped by the shot, which I think was more effective last year?<br /> this year, we were all vaccinated again but DS got it at preschool and gave it to all of us except the oldest - I wondered if she had some immunity carryover since both were flu A? but despite the shots both DS and DD2 got pretty sick, 103-105 fevers and DS got pneumonia (he has asthma so more likely than most to get it). DH and I got sick enough to feel like crap for days but not as sick as the littles. I would never risk that on a vacation week!</p> <p>I wish it worked better than this year is looking, but still seems to help a lot with severity in many cases - may have helped keep my kids out of the hospital. It does seem regional how bad the outbreaks have been, don't know if that is the exact strain within A/B or what. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909859 Sun, 09 Feb 2020 22:16:53 +0000 PinkElephant 2909859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: I want to feel this way....but am worried I'll be so mad at myself (and DH mad at me) if the kids get sick and I feel it was preventable. Yup, we did get our shots - unfortunately Influenza B is running rampant around both our PK-1 school and the elementary schools, and most people we know vaccinate...so who knows?</p> <p>@charm55: Haha you sound like my twin on the hand sanitizer front - I tether those little mini dispensers onto every bag they own!<br /> Her Brownie troop typically meets 2x/month - once is a meeting, once is an activity/outing. I honestly can't imagine meeting more than that at this point - it's so hard scheduling around all the girls' activities. Also, this same mom and I lead a troop for the younger sisters, so on Mondays we're not meeting for the Brownies, we're meeting for the Daisies. As far as it being in someone's home, sometimes we reserve a space at school, but that's often in the media center, so if we're doing something messy/food related/reliant on lots of supplies/materials, we'll do it at someone's house. :)</p> <p>@Foodnerd81: It's the host family that has had/is just getting over the flu - if it was more that someone who had it might show up, I'd tell myself not to be a huge germophobe.</p> <p>@LemonJack: @bhbee: Thank you for making me feel less crazy. I only know the flu info because the leader/mom asked me for info from a meeting she had to miss at the end of last week due to the kids being sick - so I don't want to ask other moms if their kids are still going, because it feels like gossiping, haha. Although some of them must realize the kids were out through the end of last week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909858 Sun, 09 Feb 2020 21:37:36 +0000 charm55 2909858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really am usually very very lax (probably to a fault) about germs/sickness... it takes a lot for my kids to miss an activity and I don’t worry about them getting sick when others are because I figure there’s only so much I can control. They’re pretty healthy kids so I realize I’m lucky. </p> <p>But the week before our big annual trip in March I turn into a complete germaphobe. I pack mini sanitizers in their lunch bags to use at school, I’m scrubbing down their hands any chance I can and the airplane seats get completely desanitized before anyone in my family even enters their row. The stakes are so high during vacation! So I get it and wouldn’t send her if you don’t want to risk it.</p> <p>On another unrelated note... her Girl Scout meeting is in someone’s house ? Only once a month? I’m a Girl Guide leader (Canadian version) and that’s so interesting ... very different than here! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909856 Sun, 09 Feb 2020 21:30:03 +0000 Foodnerd81 2909856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Strep wouldn't bother me because the antibiotics work really quickly so I would assume that case was not at all contagious anymore. Flu... I would assume those parents would be cautious about sending but who knows. Maybe it’s just not worth it... </p> <p>@gotkimchi: that hasn’t been the case at all near me. I know a LOT of people who got the flu shot and still were diagnosed with the flu. Just about everyone had a mild case but that’s still enough to ruin a vacation. Again just anecdotal but it seems like the shot is less effective than I’ve ever seen this year. Like it’s so bad I feel like I’ll be surprised if someone in my family DOESN’T get the flu. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909855 Sun, 09 Feb 2020 21:20:36 +0000 gotkimchi 2909855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: I would probably send. I’m assuming they’ve been exposed anyways if they go to school together and those kids shouldn’t still be contagious</p> <p>ETA did u all get flu shots? In my area the shot seems to be effective and most people getting flu were not vaccinated. That’s anecdotal but 🤷‍♀️ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909853 Sun, 09 Feb 2020 21:00:26 +0000 bhbee 2909853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Better safe than sorry to me - it’s bad enough kids have to go to school when you know they are probably getting exposed there too, we wouldn’t worry about missing one activity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909852 Sun, 09 Feb 2020 20:41:15 +0000 LemonJack 2909852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope!! I wouldn’t send her given the information you have. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/winter-germ-dilemma#post-2909851 Sun, 09 Feb 2020 20:33:59 +0000 PinkElephant 2909851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My oldest daughter is supposed to go to a monthly activity tomorrow after school (Girl Scouts). Last week, at least 3 of the kids came down with the flu on Tuesday/Wednesday. One also had strep. As far as I know, they weren’t back in school on Friday. I was hoping they’d reschedule/move the meeting elsewhere...but they didn’t. I’m thinking I really don’t want to send my kid into a house where so many people have just been/might still be so sick. </p> <p>We are going skiiing over Presidents’ Day weekend (Friday-Monday); ski school/hotel are booked and paid for. Sick kids would really mess that up 😝</p> <p>DH definitely thinks she should not go. I feel sad about it, but kind of agree with him. Is it totally paranoid/crazy not to send her? </p>