To the Mom Who Sends Her Sick Child to School

You’re ruining it for the rest of us.

I’ve never been much a rule follower. I’ll fudge her age at overpriced theme parks, talk my way into a free trial class, knowing I have no intention of signing up and bypass rules of the road (The rolling stop is a favorite move of mine as is right on red, no u-turn… Basically, I’m a menace to society.).

But the one I do adhere to? Keeping my snot-nosed, sleep-deprived, germ-filled kid out of school. But it appears I’m the only one.

I spent the last week (A full week, people after two weeks of school closures. There should be a special medal for that.) at home with my threenager. She’s hell-on-wheels on a good day. When she’s up all night and has a raging inferno inside of her, she’s a particular delight.

Look, I don’t want to stay home with my child any more than you do, believe me. The thought of yet another day each morning made me want to weep. Who am I kidding? I full-on sobbed. But only after the fourth night of no sleep.

I had a ton of work to do, some fun stuff planned and it was all scrapped. Because I’m a mom. That’s what I do. And it’s what you should too.

We constantly sacrifice for our family. Why not others?

At best, it’s the right thing to do. At worst, you don’t want your kid, with an already lowered immune system, to get sicker.

So, here I am, staying home with my fevered first born, sanity slipping away from me, all to finally bring her back to a petri dish of preschool sickies because you send your kid with a mysterious rash, hacking cough, a crazy case of pink eye…

And it’s the rest of us, who actually play by the school rules, that lose. Not you. You’re off at work, your exercise class, lunch enjoying your freedom and fresh air, letting someone else suffer on behalf of your child. There’s a special place for people like you. I imagine it’s an airplane with a screaming toddler and unapologetic passengers. Or maybe the grocery store checkout that’s a million miles long while your mini throws an epic meltdown. Whatever it is, it’s coming to you. And all I have to say is… Bless you.

Please note: This is for the mothers who have young children, not in school full-time, prearranged childcare, can afford to stay-at-home… The mothers in my neighborhood who I pass on their way to workouts while their plagued child is at preschool. NOT the moms who work out of the home, whose children are in school full-time and, if they’re sick, have no one to watch them, have to miss work and perhaps a paycheck. That is a whole other beast and I can’t begin to imagine the struggle that presents.