She Asked A Family To Leave Her Party Just Five Minutes After Arriving Because Her Friend’s Daughter Was Clearly Sick With A Nasty Cough, But Now She Feels Guilty About It
This woman and her husband recently decided to throw a party at their house and invited about 15 guests, including kids. They served dinner and drinks, engaged in mingling, and there was even a gift exchange.
But, as soon as one of her friends and their husband arrived, it was obvious that their 2-year-old daughter was suffering from a nasty cough.
“Not a ‘dry throat’ or ‘chronic’ sort of cough, but a sick, loud, hacking cough,” she recalled.
Now, the last time that same little girl went over to her house about six months ago, it was clear that the girl was sick then, too. Apparently, her friend’s daughter had a runny nose and a very bad cough.
At the time, she and her husband didn’t mention it or make a huge deal. However, just three days later, her son– who is also 2-years-old– wound up getting sick and being hospitalized twice for RSV.
That was obviously a really rough time for her family, too, which is why they didn’t want to take any chances at their most recent party.
So, after watching the little girl for a couple of minutes, she and her husband decided to ask if the girl was sick. The girl’s mom didn’t reply, but the girl’s mother chimed in.
“Yes, we thought about canceling. I did keep her home from school today, but her spirits are good, and it’s been going on for so long. It’s nothing new,” her friend responded.
Afterward, she just started taking her friend and their husband’s coats before grabbing them some wine. She also brought the little girl over to a different play area– separate from the rest of the children– so the girl could color without sharing toys with the rest of the group.
DragonImages – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
“But then, I started thinking of how uncomfortable I felt,” she revealed.
That’s why her husband stepped in and told her friend the truth. He pointed out how they had a lot of plans coming up, being that it was the holidays, and claimed that no one wanted to get sick. He also told her friend that other families with children were obviously at their party, too.
So, her husband firmly told her friend that he would like her, her husband, and their daughter to “please leave.”
Her friend’s husband actually said nothing in response to her husband. On the other hand, her friend– the little girl’s mom– started “graciously” packing up, putting on her daughter’s coat and hat. Then, her friend and their family left the party and drove home in the snow.
“I felt incredibly awkward and sort of came in and out of the conversation while continuing to cook, serve wine, etc.,” she admitted.
That’s why she never officially said “goodbye.” While she did make her friend’s family a plate of food to go, she also felt so bad making them leave after looking at the chocolate and fruit bowl her friend had brought to the party.
So now, she hasn’t been able to stop wondering if asking her friend’s family to leave her party only five minutes after arriving was really a rude thing to do.
Is it rude to show up to a party with a sick child, especially if other kids are in attendance? Do you think she and her husband had a right to ask her friend’s family to leave? What would you have done in her shoes?
You can read the original post on Reddit here.
Sign up for Chip Chick’s newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox.
More About:Relationships