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I’m not well but looking after grandchildren all weekend

(8 Posts)
Esther1 Sun 20-Oct-19 12:59:11

This weekend has been planned for ages. I am staying in home of ds and dil with their two children aged 5 and 2. Their parents have gone for a long awaited and well deserved weekend away. I come here a lot and we all get in really well, but I have never stayed over like this. The problem is I feel thick with a cold and ache all over - it came on soon after the parents left on Friday. It has been such a struggle even though the children are really good. Now - do I admit all this when the parents come home or just hold it together and make my escape before they notice. I don’t want them to feel guilty and spoil the memories of their weekend, but despite disinfecting every surface I am so afraid the children will be ill this week too - and it might be considered I have been thoughtless in not just admitting how rough I have been and let them decide or not decide to come home early. I guess it’s all a bit late in the day now to come clean but what do other Gransnetters think? They will be home in a couple of hours! Help!

ElaineI Sun 20-Oct-19 13:15:23

I would say you have a bit of a cold and leave it like that. Then they are prepared if the children are poorly bearing in mind that sometimes children don't have the aches etc that adults get. Some viruses can be age related and the children may escape it hopefully. Sorry it impacted your weekend x

Sillygrandma5GK Sun 20-Oct-19 13:16:58

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

grannyactivist Sun 20-Oct-19 13:19:59

Good advice from Sillygrandma5GK I think. Hope you soon feel better and good on you for soldiering on. smile

SueDonim Sun 20-Oct-19 13:58:39

You've done well to look after them all weekend! Hope you're feeling better soon.

I'd also go along the path of saying 'I've got a bit of a cold at the moment' and leave it at that. Children of 2 & 5 are genereally germ-ridden anyway, at least, my 2yo & 5yo GC are!

onlyruth Sun 20-Oct-19 14:01:40

Parents get colds too! I can't see how anyone can blame you if the children get one. You were doing them a favour! It's not like you could abandon the children and go home!

BlueBelle Sun 20-Oct-19 14:08:07

Well done for struggling through the weekend I ve just had a chill and either food poisoning or a bug and couldn’t drag myself out of bed yesterday, very unlike me, so you ve done fantastically
I wouldn’t make much of it at all just say you ve gone down with a cold and you ve done you best to make sure the kids don’t catch it but as onlyruth says it’s not uncommon is it you haven’t had the plague and what was the alternative ?
Don’t overthink this

Esther1 Sun 20-Oct-19 15:38:24

Thanks everybody for reassuring advice. Parents are due back before childrens’ bedtime but it is a long long afternoon - the little ones are being so good, I wonder if they sense poor old granny is under par. We are playing ‘pairs’ game and the 5 year old is letting me win!! I think I will mention I have a sniffle and say I hope the children don’t catch it - and leave it at that. Good advice from you all. I feel better just having shared how I am feeling - sympathy has helped no end!