I’ve got 3 kids under 4…. I’ve been sick for 4 years!
No joke, I use 3 towels on the trainer… one for the handlebar, one for wiping my face, one for blowing my nose
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My tips for staying healthy:
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Wash their hands the minute they get back home.
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Do NOT eat any leftover food on their plates as tempting as this might be. It’ll both keep you healty and not turning into a human waste grinder.
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No kissing kids on the mouth.
Healthy rides 
HAHAHA im so guilty of this. Whenever we go out to eat, I try to order something reasonably healthy, only to finish my meal with mac n cheese and chicken tenders!
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Did the kids get sick intentionality? Of course not.
Did the kids get their parents sick intentionality? Of course not.
So how can someone get intensely angry at their kids for something that is just part of life and being a parent?
Anyone who gets openly angry at their kids for making them sick, seriously needs to re-evaluate their priorities in life and what’s really important.
Happy kids who feel loved or a PR? If PR ever comes before the former, that person needs to see a professional therapist.
Now all that said, can someone have a private pity party that they keep to themselves, absolutely. But, that doesn’t in anyway involve openly blaming their kids or being frustrated with their kids.
I hate being sick, absolutely hate it. But, if you are a parent you are going to get sick and multiple times, especially when it comes to young kids, and yes often at the most inopportune times. That’s just life, oh well. Hug your kids and remember they’re only young for such a short period and there will always be another race.
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Am I missing something? I’ve seen this theme a few times in this thread. No half way decent parent does this.
It’s safe to say kids are exposed to alot and need help building proper hygene habits. My 7 year old has better hand washing habits than many adults it seems, but I’m sure he’s brought home a germ or 2 unintentionally.
To be honest, I was a little surprised to read the OP’s post, “I met a dad yesterday who was intensely upset at his kids for causing him to miss an event last week because they got him sick.” Because I agree, no half way decent parent would do that. But, as we know there are some crumby parents. Most aren’t thankfully, but they are out there. Ultimately, some people are all about themselves, which isn’t the best trait for a parent.
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Must have read the OP way too quickly! Sounds like someone needs to reevaluate pretty much everything.
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I’m the OP. Even after four kids I’m still learning to be a dad, I drop the ball all the time and sometimes getting frustrated at my kids for getting sick is one of them. So while I agree that we should never take out our frustrations on our kids, I can understand the dad’s frustration as well.
Some kids (especially younger ones) do not have good hygiene despite what their parents teach. My eldest does a pretty good job but still drops the ball sharing drinks with friends. My middle one still licks handrails because she likes the taste of brass, the third still puts her hand in her mouth all the time, and my son licks his shoes after stepping in “the puddle” in a public bathroom.
When my wife and I witness these things happen (despite constant reminders to stop) and the kid gets sick a few days later, it’s hard not to get frustrated. Frankly I’m typing this as we’re going through our 4th round of illness since August, I’ve been off the bike more than on in the last 2 months.
My post was a reminder to all parents here (especially me) that we need to take these things in stride and not let it railroad your life. Like I said in my original post, there was a time I scheduled my kids’ events around MY events to avoid getting sick…that’s not right. It’s OK to be frustrated but not OK to take it out on the kids, even if it is “their fault” for getting you sick. Some kids are great at hygiene at a young age, some kids are super not great, it doesn’t matter because they’re our kids and no flu/illness should keep us from hugging them.
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Hence my comment about reevaluating pretty much everything. This was not meant as an indictment of an angry/frustrated parent, but a reminder of what’s really important. If one is getting angry at their kid for being sick, it’s time to step back, take a breath, and understand what’s really important.
I love my son more than anything on this planet, and I still get frustrated with every Capri Sun straw wrapper I find on the floor or when he tells me he washed his hands well (which he probably did) only to pick his nose thinking no one’s watching 
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My wife volunteers at our school for the pre-K class, the teacher warned her that the kids like to share everything…even their boogers. 
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There is a view that the rise in allergies and asthma is because the latest generations aren’t getting exposed to as many bacteria and viruses at a young age. Thus their immune systems don’t fully mature and over react to contagions which normally would not be harmful to them. Maybe there’s hope if they are sharing boogies.
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Yup… let kids play in the dirt more!
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! It sucks that here in Spain as a healthy 30 year old I’m not allowed either this year 
What?!? Can’t you just wave a wad of € in front of somebody?
Maybe I’ll try that with a small amount of €€ haha. The issue here (as I am told) is that only doctors are authorized to give vaccinations (as opposed to pharmacists) so it’s a heavily rationed system.
