Scary Sniffle Season

This time of the year is full of family, friends, holidays, food, crisp cold weather, and snot. Yup, lots of snot. I call it Scary Sniffle Season and not because of Halloween. 

 My kiddo is what the doctors call immunocompromised, which means his immune system has a more difficult time fighting off viruses, germs, and anything that causes illnesses. Scary Sniffle Season is bittersweet. Bittersweet because I prayed for the days when the kiddo would spend more time in school and at home instead of a hospital room. I prayed for the days when the kiddo would enjoy Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Kwanzaa, and everything in between.

 Now, well, here we are. Enjoying the Scary Sniffle Season. We enjoyed it so much that I am writing this post from the hospital.  That is right.  The snot comes with coughs, sneezes, runny noses, germy hands, and, in this case, the flu. The flu is especially dangerous for immunocompromised kiddos where even a low-grade fever = hospital admission.  But do not feel sorry for us.  This kid lives his best life in the hospital – macaroni and cheese for breakfast, ultimate video game time, and the movie, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, on repeat on the TV. The kiddo’s version of a staycation.

#us #IRL #alwaysmiling

The tension between wanting your child to enjoy the “normal” things versus the very real observation that “normal” things actually equate to risky life choices.   The flu is especially dangerous for the kiddo. But what do I do?  Daily, I think about that tension.  The more he enjoys the “normal” things, the more he will be exposed to the “normal” things – including the flu.  Ultimately, parents, including me, want to protect their children.  Here, protecting him is not an option.  At least for me.  I choose to let him enjoy his life to the fullest.  Plus, there is no way I can protect him from every germ in the universe, in our neighborhood, in his classroom, or even in our home.  I cannot.  You cannot.  Parents cannot. Caretakers cannot.  Save yourself the time.  Trust, I have tried.   He must live his life, and he wants to live his life.  So, as his number 1 fan, I support him wholeheartedly. 

I read an article from a mother of an immunocompromised kid and she pleaded with parents to keep their sick children at home. I would love if those with contagious viruses and colds would stay home. However, I cannot control others; I can only control myself (and my kid, for now).  I know my preaching has not gone unnoticed when my child notices that a kid is digging in his nose and then touches other people with that same snotty finger.  Or when he notices that someone did not cover their mouth and wash their hands after sneezing or coaching. I have taught my kiddo to ask that person who sneezes, digs, and then touches to 1.) not touch him and 2.) wash his hands. I cannot always protect him, but I can teach him how to advocate for himself and take care of himself. 

Caretakers and parents of medically complex individuals, for your own sanity, please release the guilt that comes with allowing the individual to experience life.  Experiences are why we are here on this Earth. At all times, charge forward and live life, especially during Scary Sniffle Season (aka the most wonderful time of the year).