Behind the Scenes
Child, Health, Parenting, Preschool February 4th, 2009This happened on 23rd January Friday outside Keatkeat’s classroom….
When we brought our boys to school, the angry mother of one of Keatkeat’s classmate was already firing away at the Teacher and another parent.
Auntie F: “How could you be so irresponsible? It’s obvious that the chicken pox are not totally dried yet. Bring him home.”
Auntie K: “But the doctor has already certified that my boy is well to go to school.”
Auntie F (turning towards the teacher): “As a teacher, you should take care of the health of your students. Imagine if the whole class get infected, that would affect their studies.”
Teacher: “But the doctor has already certified.” Showing the letter to Auntie F.
Aunite F (extremely pissed, turned to other parents who are there): “Don’t you agree with me? Imagine your kid gets the virus, how is he/she going to enjoy Chinese New Year?”
Everyone (not in unison though): “If the doctor thinks its safe, then it should be ok….”
Auntie F (fuming like a dragon, turned towards Auntie K): “I think you SHOULD bring your boy home now!”
Auntie K (called out to her boy who was already in the class long before we arrived): “Boy, would you like to go home now?”
Boy shook his head and ran back to his classmate, to continue their game.
Auntie F: “Aiyo!!! Why did you ask him? Just bring him HOME!”
By this time, all the kids have arrived. The teacher was ready to close the door.
Auntie F: “Teacher, are you sure you want to keep that boy in the class?”
The teacher smiled back and the door was shut.
Allan and I were walking away, but Auntie F refused to budge. She was raising her voice now, “Today is only an hour of fun, sharing CNY goodies with all the friends. Its not a study-day. Why did you bring him here? Its going to be CNY on Monday. How could you not consider the consequences of bringing your boy here today? It is completely unnecessary. You could have waited for the CNY holidays to be over, which is on Wednesday. In that way, the boy’s spots would have completely dried up and its safer for all the other children…..blah blah blah”
We left the uncomfortable scene. Allan and I shared the same view. If Auntie F is so afraid that ‘her’ daughter will get infected, then bring her home! If the doctor had certified that it is safe, then it should be.
But after 2 weeks from that incident outside the class, many doubted the credibility of the Doctor. Cos’ now, other than Keatkeat, several classmates are ABSENT from school because of Chicken Pox too. *sigh*
February 5th, 2009 at 4:34 am
Shoot! I wanna support the mom who brought her child too. A doctor’s note is indiputable. However, the recent cases might not be that returned child’s fault. After all, he got them from somewhere, right? There might be another source.
Do you not vacinate against Chicken Pox over there?
February 5th, 2009 at 5:26 am
Why didn’t “Auntie F” just take her child home?
Melissas last blog post..Sariah Is Learning To Print!
February 5th, 2009 at 8:24 am
chicken pox is most contagious during the incubation period and the initial stage, NOT when it was drying up, lah.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:05 am
oh no … then how shld the teacher explain to other parents now?
lings last blog post..Song Sharing Sunday #2
February 5th, 2009 at 9:21 am
ling,
the teacher just blame it on the cert from the Doctor….
February 5th, 2009 at 9:22 am
Angie,
how I wish you were there.
cos’ no one dared to tell Auntie F directly that her believe is wrong….
*sigh*
February 5th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Melissa,
‘cos she thinks that it is not her fault.
she thinks that the ‘trouble-maker’ is Auntie K, so why should her daughter be deprived of having fun with her friends on that Friday.
She feels that the Auntie K’s child SHOULD be the one barred from joining the fun.
hence, Auntie F still insist that Auntie K should bring her son home.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:27 am
Erin,
there is Chicken Pox vaccination here.
But there is a price to pay for.
We think that its normal for a person have Chicken Pox, hence we did not even consider that as an option.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:48 am
I felt that the kid with chicken pox should be resting at home even though it is drying up. I wouldn’t have let my boy to attend if I’m the parent. Also, since the other parent is so afraid, then don’t bring her child to school. I was wondering how did the teacher explain to the other parents now that so many kids are on MC :)
Sometimes, when I see children coughing & sneezing in the class. I just felt so uneasy to let my boys go near to them. How can the caregiver be so inconsiderate to send the child to school & passing all the germs around. There is one time when I cant stand it any longer & I approached the teacher to let her pass the message across :)
Janices last blog post..What Amos wore on the FIRST day of CNY … …
February 5th, 2009 at 11:01 am
I think it’s good to get the Chicken Pox at young age lor. Otherwise, it would be suffering when getting the pox during adulthood!! Especially getting all those scars which are difficult to get rid off compared to kids… ;)
I got chicken pox two weeks b4 my wedding reception! It was my second time as my mom claimed that I had it when I was a kid!
February 5th, 2009 at 11:58 am
I think it is good for the kids to get it…better for their immune system.
February 5th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Hmmm…..blame everything on the doctor.
Hope Keatkeat gets well soon with NO scars. So allowing Binbin to get it too? Maybe easier for both to get it as the same time…
Sigh….or get the immunity jab!
Anns last blog post..At 16+ months
February 5th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Actually, I think all parties are not at fault..just that they shared different priorities and beliefs at that moment.
The teacher, Auntie K and most of the parents trusted the professional judgement of the doctor while Auntie F preferred to trust her own judgement which maybe based on prior experiences with other cases of Chickenpox which she might have heard or encountered before..
I feel that if Auntie F is so afraid of her kid getting infected..she should bring her kid home and not make a scene at the school which does not serve any purpose at all
If my kids were to kena Chickenpox, I would keep them at home til all visible ‘pox’ has disappeared as I do not want to subject myself and my kids to unnecessary comments from the other parents..worse still..if they were to label my kids as the main culprits for spreading the virus to their kids..
Flower_Mummy aka ???s last blog post..~~It’s Playtime~~
February 5th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Janice,
how did the teacher explain?
“Blame it on the doctor lor….”
(how convenient is that? *hmmm…*)
February 5th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Ann,
yup!
I’m waiting for Binbin to get it too…
once and for all…get it over and done with altogether….
February 5th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
oh no! that’s bad.. hows keatkeat now? take good care and impose restraint on your other kids..
February 5th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Hey.. as being so much so familiar with this chicken pox thing..In India, ppl n doc says not to bring kids out especially when itz drying..Unless it dries off completely and we have the custom of taking bath with neem leaves n turmeric which is long believed and true as good natural antiseptics, we are not allowed to go out :) anyways happened has happened !
February 5th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Jaanvi,
so far so bad.
*laugh*
pox are popping out.
its getting itchy and painful all at the same time…
but my boy is a warrior, so no whining, how’s that for a 5 year old! *wink*
I’m so proud of him!
February 5th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
The kids probably go infected before that. I hope your little guys feeling better.
February 6th, 2009 at 4:13 am
what i understand, every child will get chickenpox. better they get now when they are still little than when they are more older like 20 year, etc.
Juliana RWs last blog post..Waving and Irritate
February 6th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Just for the sake of everyone I hope that the mad mom’s kid is not one of the infected.
February 7th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Well, I read somewhere that the infectious period of chicken pox is also at the early stages where there is fever and the whole body feels weak. Some of the kids could have gotten it then. I’m just sayin’.
giddy tigresss last blog post..Ethan is three years old!