How do you respond?

[Chrissie]

:mad:Okay here goes my little vent sesion! You all know how careful we have to be with our little heart kiddos, keeping them home, away from groups, sick people away. Pretty much confine them during winter months, Well................. I am getting SO flipping tired of everyone responding to my confinement issue as "WELL WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WHEN SHE STARTS SCHOOL?" or the response "YOU KNOW SHE HAS TO START SCHOOL ONE DAY!" ARGH!!! I have about had it. I was just wondering if anyone else has had to deal with this and how they respond to it. I feel like making them feel bad and saying back "Well we don't even know if she will make it to start school!" I just get really tired of it, even my close family won't back off. She is 1 not 5 I think 5 year olds have a better chance of fighting off germs than my fragile 1 year old! PHEW! Okay I am done, Thanks for listening.
Chrissie

[4Hursties]

Her lungs are not as developed yet, by kindergarten rsv wont be a threat. Besides, what kind of reasoning is it to say someday you won’t be able to protect her, so why do it now? She is still a baby, and she has no need to have a lot of contact with many people. It doesn't hurt her to have a smaller circle of family and friends that are healthy and careful when they visit. She doesn't need church or anything else, it won’t help her developmentally.

We skipped a birthday dinner at a restaurant this week, and guess what? My brother-in-law attended knowing he had swine flu. You are mom, they are not, and you know what you need/want to do. Hang in there! I am so blunt now that I wonder who is still going to be my friend at the end of the day, but come what may, I am going to continue to tell them what is what. It is my family and my choice.

If you need to talk, call me! 801-455-9295 (I am on verizon)

[Ellinger Family]

I don't think you should worry about what other people think about you or what you feel is best for your child. I learned my lesson by keeping Nathan home during the winter last year and then taking him on a plane to Tenessee in February to help my sister after she had a baby. Nathan came home with walking pneumonia and spent a week in the hospital at Primary's immediately after getting off of the plane to come home. My 4 year old that also went with me on the trip didn't even get a cough. I'm a pretty firm believer that it hardly takes a heart patient anything to pick up a nasty bug.

My in laws think I'm nuts for even considering not taking Nathan to church. But I feel like Nathan has already dealt with enough without adding more to it for selfish reasons. We wash our hands like crazy now and we're being VERY selective of where we go and what we do as a family outside of our home.

And I agree whole heartedly that a baby doesn't get much out of church ANYWAY!

Chin up, buy lots of board games or movies. We've started our Friday night family movie night with hot chocolate, popcorn, and a movie that we already own. So far its been a hit. We've also tried to spend one night a week playing board games as a family too. Its hard to stay put, but I think well worth it.

Good luck! You know what is best for your baby.

[BraveHeart]

Hang in there, we've all been in those situations. Its frustrating :mad:to say the least, they just don't understand how important it is to keep these heart kids safe and healthy. Most of them that are young are still between surgeries anyway and thats when its most important. Try and not let it bother you and any time you want to express your anger or vent we'll be here to understand!:)

Hugs,

[Heart Mommy]

This year we are being more careful than we ever have.... This is such a crazy year that we have stayed home more and been extra careful. Gator is two and a half and his ped is so worried about him that she is fighting our insurance to get him synigis again. She is bringing the H1N1 shot to her office for her "special" families... Check it out Aimee.... the clinic is the 18th and 19th starting at 5 p.m.

So vent all you want.
It is frustrating that it doesn't seem less silly to them. I remember when my neice was born at 27 weeks(way before Alex, or kiddo's of my own)... her mommy carried sanitizer around for the first 18 months of life... If you even touched her she would make you squeeze squeeze.... I thought it was super crazy and I think I even said the same thing... Like "someday" she has to go to school! Think about the germs there. I think I was stupid enough to say, "doesn't she need to build up her immunities?" Yeah, I know I was lame. But, I wish someone would have given me the real straight answer...which is... My child has been extremely ill... I have seen that... It is really scary and hard... If by washing hands and keeping him away from events and other people with germs will keep him safer from being sick like that again, I will do anything... I know you love him, and us and so I know you will understand that this is why we are trying to be so careful. Also, You are right! Our greatest desire is to see our child beat this CHD so much so that he can go to school. Although I have thought about it... I REALLY don't want to worry about it until we get there.... LOL....

The worst part is... I think people forget that it seems like house arrest for 7-ish months out of the year for the parents. It's not like it is fun to miss all the parties and fun things we could be doing... We make the best of it... But, heck I kinda enjoy going to church and not having to switch off between the hubs and I so we can both do our callings and take care of kids. I kinda like being able to go to family dinners and parties, then I don't have to cook every night... I kinda like shopping and doing holliday activites. PLUS, we all know what it is like to have a cooped up family. Especially trying to keep a two year old happy....

I think people say things like this sometimes because they are like I was... Nobody told me, you would think because I am dashingly brilliant that I would be able to figure it out.... WRONG-O.

Good luck

[cmooredavis]

I sometimes feel like a am walking a fine line between being cautious and being paranoid. We finally decided that we can not control what other families decide to do about taking their kids out in public. But I CAN control where I take my children. If that is perceived as paranoia by others, so be it.

The flu is in our neighborhood and I was worried about having my kids around other children to play with or at church. So we have kept all 3 of our children home from church last Sunday. Thankfully most of the sick families did stay home too.

I refuse to feel guilty for putting the health of my child first. Good Luck!