My little boy has chicken pox

May 3, 2009 3:29pm CST
I first noticed the spots on Friday night and then on Saturday they had started spreading. This morning when he got up he was absolutely covered in them. He had a particular bad day today as all he wanted to do is cuddle up to me and his dad and sleep. I hate seeing him like this as I hate seeing any of my children ill. Now we have the added worry in case my partner catches them as about six years ago he caught them and nearly died. They had spread to his lungs he ended up collapsing and was rushed to hospital and was in isolation for two weeks. My partner is feeling very guilty as he is off to Ireland on Tuesday and he feels he does not want to leave our son while he is ill. I also felt very guilty today as I had promised my 8 year old son I would take him out and went ahead with it. My partner dropped me off and came straight back home to be with our son. Luckily my 16 and 17 year old sons are willing to look after him when they can. But it broke my heart when he cried his eyes out because he wanted to come with us. Has anybody you knew caught a common illness that led to something a lot more serious? Do you feel guilty when you have to leave your children when they are ill?
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8 responses
• Japan
4 May 09
It happens in our life unfortunately. After reading your post I remember the guilty feeling even now I carry when I had to leave my daughter along with her mother away from my work place. It happend when she was just one year old. At first my wife got the chicken-pox. the very next day we flew to our home town which is 700km away as I could not take long leave from work to take care of wife and daughter. After 15 days wife was cured and then it started our 1 year old daughter. I was terribly caught in guilty feeling that I was a useless father. She recovered faster with the care of her grandparents. The scars are there still in her body though fading slowly now. But the scars of guilty feeling in my mind are still dark.
4 May 09
Sometimes it can't be helped its good that her grandparents were there for her. I am glad to hear that your wife and daughter are both better now. I do not think you were a useless father the way I see it is that you were just trying to do your best for everyone.
• Japan
10 May 09
True, I was trying to do the best possible solution, but those days were horrible for me to live alone with that guilty feelings.
• United States
4 May 09
I think it is within our nature s parents to not want to leave our children when they are sick. I guess I am one of the few lucky ones my kids have never had chicken pox, and I have 5 of them. Ususally once you have caught pox you dont get them again I have been told. But it you have never had them they are supposed to worse if you get them as an adult. We will keep you famlily in our thought and prayers your family will be safe and healthy.
5 May 09
Thank you very much. He seems to be over the worst of it now. Strange isn't it I also have five children and all of them have now had chicken pox.
• India
4 May 09
Ah shucks. I have never been struck by chicken pox, but I had Malaria once. Oh, it was one sad time for me as I missed a lot of action. I missed my NCC camp, some sports events and a lot of classes. It's very painful when you miss out on opportunities because of stupid diseases. I do not know of any cases within my peer groups whose small ailments went to become something serious. But I don't think that you should worry that much. In fact you can ask your husband to have some medications at hand, just in case he gets sick. bourne
4 May 09
Hi bourne It must have been a horrible time for you. I am not sure what we can do to prevent my partner catching them I don't know if there is any medicine that will prevent it. But thank you for the idea I will look into it.
@Ozarkgirl (774)
• United States
4 May 09
Yes I would, and also your partner does not have to worry about getting Chicken Pox again, because if you had them bad the first time around then you will never get them again.
4 May 09
I do hope that is the case but it was the second time he caught it as he had it as a child. Lets hope he doesn't get it again.
@betsyhu (207)
• China
4 May 09
If my child is ill, i will not leave her alone. even if i have to do and can't refuse it. As a Mom, I want to stay with my daughter everyday,though I'm busy if she with me. Sometimes, I will get angry for her naughty..
4 May 09
I found it very hard to leave him but sometimes it can't be helped.
• Philippines
4 May 09
Chicken pox and German measles has been an epidemic here in our office and everybody is really concerned. When i go home at the end of my shift, I see to it that I take a bath before I touch my little daughter. She is only 2 years old and I'm so afraid that she gets sick. Not yet and I hope not. I hope she wouldn't get sick and led to a lot more serious sickness. I think chicken pox is not that serious if the doctor injected you a medicine that would not allow those little blisters come out of your body. The medicine will minimize it and eventually stops the rashes all over your body including internally. Yes, I feel guilty if I had to go when my daughter is sick. Especially if I had to go to work and my daughter is sick.
4 May 09
It can be very worrying I can understand everybody being concerned they do say it is better for a child to get the chicken pox while they are young as it can be very serious in adults. I hope that your daughter stays well.
• United States
3 May 09
As a nurse I have seen many folks go from something small to a much bigger illness. It can be scary but all you can do is watch over them and do the best you can to help them feel better. With chicken pox- avoid hot baths as that makes them spread more quickly- tempid bath are best (lukewarm) and putting a little Aveno in also helps relieve some of the itching. AS for leaving my little guys when they get sick- I try not to- but if I have to my husband is usually with them. Guilty yes- but I never worry about the care they get when they are with their dad- he loves them as much as I do and takes very good care of them. Good luck and I hope your little one gets to feeling better soon.
4 May 09
My little boy is very much a daddy's boy so will usually go to his dad when he is ill. Thank you for the advice.
@turones (206)
• Philippines
20 May 09
We mothers are naturally sensitive when it comes to our children. We all want to be at their side especially during those times when they are sick. I also feel guilty every time I had to leave my kid when she's not feeling well. But of course, there are lots of things that must be done no matter what for the sake of the whole family. I just make sure that I come home as soon as I can to take care of her.