Call your sister and cancel Thanksgiving dinner this year. Tell her that your kids are sick.

Then have T-day dinner just with your immediate family.

Your sister can go get something at the grocery store -- they are open until noon.

Anonymous wrote:A barking cough? OP, I had antibiotics for bronchitis three weeks ago. I still have a barking cough. Am I supposed to sit at home? I'm thinking you are a drama queen. I thought this child had an acute illness.

You must not be familiar with croup. Adults don't get that barking cough.

A barking cough? OP, I had antibiotics for bronchitis three weeks ago. I still have a barking cough. Am I supposed to sit at home? I'm thinking you are a drama queen. I thought this child had an acute illness.

Anonymous wrote:jesus, you sound like a nightmare. just wash your hands afterwards. do you live in a bubble? your kids are exposed to much worse in school every day.

Schools have policies about sick kids.

I personally wouldn't blink at a cold. But stomach viruses, pneumonia, or anything else nasty I'd ask them to stay home. A barking cough and she refuses to take her daughter to the doctor? Doesn't sound good. Unless they got it checked out and determined it was nothing contagious/nasty I'd ask them to stay home.

jesus, you sound like a nightmare. just wash your hands afterwards. do you live in a bubble? your kids are exposed to much worse in school every day.

Why can't you approach your sister calmly with this? No one wants to get sick, and she should understand that. Its just rude.

Why don't you offer DN a cute face mask when they walk in?

It's very common in Asian countries for the sick person to wear one in respect to the health of others.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Details please: how do you know the child is sick? How sick (what symptoms)? How old are your kids? What is the relationship?

My guess is you're a FTM, and I'm sympathetic, but if you've got an infant and you're neurotic about exposure to germs, you shouldn't be hosting (or visiting) for any holidays. Just do this one solo and by next year, your little one's immune system (and your own sense of perspective) should be totally functional.

OP here. I'm not a first time mom. My kids are 4 and 7. It's my sister and DN. DN always is brought over sick. Stomach flu, nasty cold, diahrea--you name it. We always get it--ALWAYS. I'm sick of it. My sister told my mother that DN is sick. That is how I know. She refuses to take DN to the doctor. She has a barking cough. She won't tell me b/c she knows I will tell her not to come.

Okay, I commented after this about Uncle Jake, and with this information I would just say, "I'm sorry but we really can't have you bringing DN over sick for Thanksgiving. I hope she feels better soon."

It's not just the kids, it's the elderly people, too.

I would call them and say something like, "I'm really sorry little Janie is sick, that sounds really hard for you. Unfortunately, Uncle Jake has been having some health challenges lately and we're really working hard to keep him from getting any illnesses that might set him back, so I don't think it's a good idea for us to all be together until Janie is better. I would love to send DH over to your house with a meal, though, I want to be sure that all of you are fueled up to get well as quickly as possible so we can get together again really soon."

Anonymous wrote:Details please: how do you know the child is sick? How sick (what symptoms)? How old are your kids? What is the relationship?

My guess is you're a FTM, and I'm sympathetic, but if you've got an infant and you're neurotic about exposure to germs, you shouldn't be hosting (or visiting) for any holidays. Just do this one solo and by next year, your little one's immune system (and your own sense of perspective) should be totally functional.

OP here. I'm not a first time mom. My kids are 4 and 7. It's my sister and DN. DN always is brought over sick. Stomach flu, nasty cold, diahrea--you name it. We always get it--ALWAYS. I'm sick of it. My sister told my mother that DN is sick. That is how I know. She refuses to take DN to the doctor. She has a barking cough. She won't tell me b/c she knows I will tell her not to come.

Need more details, OP. But I think you could nicely ask them not to come.

Details please: how do you know the child is sick? How sick (what symptoms)? How old are your kids? What is the relationship?

My guess is you're a FTM, and I'm sympathetic, but if you've got an infant and you're neurotic about exposure to germs, you shouldn't be hosting (or visiting) for any holidays. Just do this one solo and by next year, your little one's immune system (and your own sense of perspective) should be totally functional.

Yeah, maybe delicately tell her not to come. And send DH over with some food.

I would call them and ask them not to come.

I need perspective. There is someone coming to my home for Thanksgiving whose child is sick (not just a little cold--and this child has not yet been to the doctor). She fully intends to bring her. I fully intend to pack them up enough food for 3 ppl and send them home (without letting them into my house to infect 2 kids and 4 elderly ppl). WWYD in this situation?