Holiday cold and flu etiquette

[nodehopper]

Ahhh the joys of the holidays. My Sister and her Husband came to visit for the holiday. 4 hours into their drive to my house they call and let us know they are a couple hours away and oh......by the way......she has come down with a nasty cold.....feverish and dripping nose......and they will see us soon !!

 

Joy oh joy. I love my Sis and her Hubby and really enjoy it when they visit...but is it worth me being down with a cold for a week just to see them for a couple days? I guess I am a bit pissed they didn't call and give us the option.

 

Am I out of line being upset about this? I am being nice, but have to say it is hard not to show my feelings. My Wife and I are looking at our 50's in a couple years...we are in good health and have pretty good immune systems, but avoiding getting a cold from a co-worker is a bit different than living in a house together ...eating at the same table etc. Chances are probably 100% that we will be exposed and it is just a matter of if our immune system can successfully fight it off. It is not just the cold but everytime I get sick I end up with Bronchitis and my Wife ends up with sinus infections which means a course of antibiotics.

 

When they get here she .....through the runny nose ans sneezing tells us how they were at a friends party over last weekend and one friend showed up with this terrible cold and now most who attended are sick along with my Sister. She came down with it a couple days before they came to visit so it wasn't like she wasn't aware of what she was doing.

 

Am I just off base? Should I just accept getting sick? Does this make me selfish and thoughtless to be angry? What is the etiquette here?

[Homz]

There are nasal inhalers that block or greatly reduce cold viruses. Go talk to your Rx and get some of that hand sanitizer while your at it. Take these steps and follow good hygiene practices and you may not get it. BTW... if she is allready full blown cold symptoms she is possibly past the contagious stage.

 

It's Christmas see your sis and quit whining.

[ChanMan]

Dear Nodehopper,

 

Proper ettiquette would , in fact, dictate that they call ahead and let you know or even allow you to decide that they stay away for the holiday. So you are correct, they did not follow proper ettiquette, and you have a right to be indignant.

 

However, proper family ettiquette mandates that your door is always open to family, especially at Christmas. So you are well within your right to allow her to come to your house and spend the holiday with you, and should follow the above advice (I'll add "Cold-Eze", as it has sure worked for me) and do everything you can to make sure everyone enjoys the hoildays.

 

 

I hope this helps, and Merry Christmas!

 

 

Signed,

 

"Chan Landers"