Swine Flu: Some Parents Just Overreact!

So when a reporter asks for your impressions of the swine flu 'epidemic', you probably shouldn't imply that the media is exploiting the story to the detriment of the American public. Okay, so I wasn't that eloquent, which is probably why they edited down my comments. Rob was much more articulate than me. Click on the link below to see what I'm talking about:

http://www.wpbf.com/video/19346192/

Let me set the record straight: we did NOT take Levi to the urgent care facility because we thought he had swine flu. We went because he got sick while we were vacationing, and we wanted to ask a doctor about it before we boarded a plane to go home. We were primarily concerned with taking him on a flight if he had an ear infection (ouch!), and secondarily concerned that we could expose him to other infections/viruses (read: swine flu). Thank you, Joe Biden, for planting this fear in my head (Oops! That's not what he meant to say!). Seriously, Mr. Biden only said what everyone with flights scheduled this weekend was already thinking.

Our pediatrician's office recommended that we take Levi to urgent care for a look-see, so off we went. The great news is that Levi's ears aren't infected, but the bad news is that he's most likely still going to have a rough ride tomorrow. On the way out we were approached by a very nice reporter who asked if we had a couple of minutes to talk about what we 'think about what's happening across the country with swine flu'. Suddenly, all the other outfits I'd considered that morning flashed through my mind, but it was too late - he wasn't taking 'no' for an answer.

Two final thoughts: 1) When you are going to an urgent care facility because you're concerned for you child's health, you may not think you have time to brush your hair, but you do. You really do. 2) My child usually wears shoes, but we were in sunny Florida...and we were in a hurry (did I mention that this is why I didn't care more for my appearance?). Ugh! So many of this morning's choices I'd like to revisit!

Lynda