Lately, I’ve had the “you had better be holding your head in your hands” rule. Mainly because of the people that are sending their children to school really sick! Three cases of strep last week, and yes, I know it can spread fast. So far, knock on wood, we’ve been spared.
My rule is as follows: There are just some clear signs with my kids – I know they aren’t faking when I see those. Other than those signs, if abnormal stuff is coming out of either end – stay home. Temp and/or swollen red (splotchy) tonsils – stay home.
If it is borderline, I say try school and usually, we don’t hear a peep from either of them. Neither try to stay home, so it’s rare when they truly do ask. My son went through about 3 weeks of trying to stay home, but that was at the beginning of school and he’s in kindergarten. He just missed being home.
I must give him credit for trying to miss when he had a cold. “Mom, snot is just gross. Michael doesn’t like snot and thinks he’ll get sick, too. I need to stay home.” My bad mom response – “Son, I watched Michael eat a booger. Snot can’t gross him out, that much. You’re going. Send my apologies to Michael.”