I Sent My Kid to School SICK

I did it. Trying to blame others won't change the outcome. It was unintentional but a learning experience nonetheless. I will listen better to my child and not assume "it's nothing". Only I can prevent similar situations from reoccurring. I'm sharing the story with you so your child will not have to go through the same thing.

I was woken early Friday morning by my 6 year old son. He complained of a sore throat. He did not have a fever or any other symptoms. I gave him some ibuprofen and snuggled him back to sleep.


When he woke at 7am he seemed fine. He did not complain about his throat or any other ailments. We went about our morning routine and just before leaving for school, I gave him another 1/2 dose of ibuprofen in case the sore throat should come back. This was my first mistake. My son has only complained of a sore throat on one other occasion and it turned out to be strep.


Off to school he went.

I received a call about 10:30 from the school nurse that he was in the clinic and had thrown up...all over himself. She suggested I bring a change of clothes when coming to get him. I got to the school 10 minutes later, with a change of clothes. My poor baby was lying down looking pathetic. I could tell he REALLY didn't feel well. We got him home and bathed. Put him in some warm pj's and he went right to sleep. He slept for the next 5 hours, only waking to throw up, then falling right back to sleep.


During one of his brief awake times, I questioned him as to what had happened. Did he feel sick all morning or did the nausea come on suddenly? He claimed that he had told the teacher he "wasn't going to make it" and requested to go to the nurse. He was told "No". He then proceeded to vomit all over himself while sitting in his seat as told. Hearing this sent me over the edge. It was like a mama bear protecting her cub. How dare a teacher not allow my son to see the nurse. How dare she make him sit in his seat and throw up all over himself, in front of his classmates. How dare she!

I posted my PO'd status on Facebook and immediately had all my friends rallying around me, insisting I needed to march right back up to the school and demand answers. I'm a little calmer than some, and realize the negative impact my over-reacting could have on my poor first grader. I decided to e-mail the teacher and get her take on the situation. I felt this was the fair way to go.

I politely told her what Boog had told me and asked if it was true that he was not allowed to see the nurse. I also asked for any other details she may want to add so we could work together to insure this didn't happen again.

She responded.

Boog had complained of a sore throat pretty much from the get go. She allowed him to get water when needed. She and the teacher aide had felt his arm and forehead "as they usually do" and felt he had no temperature. This is mistake number 2 on my part. I should have sent a note. I should have let the teacher know that he had complained of a sore throat, and mostly that I had given him ibuprofen. Maybe this would have allowed a different outcome. Of course he didn't feel feverish, the medicine was preventing that. If only I had let her know. I won't make that mistake again.

I probably won't even think about sending him the next time he has a sore throat.

I feel awful.

I won't make the mistake again.