Right now we have an epidemic of the stomach virus sweeping our nation. I’ve heard of two cruise ships that had to return to port due to the quick spreading stomach bug, 60 kids and rising on a college campus that are getting sick, and even the contestants on American Idol.

For us the stomach bug hit Friday as soon as my little one got off the school bus. We had done so well avoiding families that we knew had the virus. We even used hand sanitizer every time we were out in public. Unfortunately, it only took one child who had the stomach bug in my daughter’s class to land her and four other of her classmates (all are disabled including my daughter) in the hospital. The aides in my daughter’s class were dropping like flies.

It took 6 days before my daughter was ready to return to school and I was sure she was no longer contagious. What really gets me is the lack of people who stay at home when they are sick. Their focus is on them and what they need to get done, instead of everyone else that they may infect. I have seen this happen over and over again with more than just the stomach bug.

I love hearing my grandmother’s stories of how they would put a note on the door indicating that the house was under quarantine whenever a contagious illness struck anyone in the home. No one does this anymore, but we need to start. Why is it fair to give your germs to 10 other people, who are each going to infect 10 other people, and so on. In three days you can go from being the only sick person to being one of 100 sick people all because you didn’t stay home until you were completely better.

Please people. I am begging you to quarantine yourselves until you are 100% sure you no longer will get anyone else sick. Both myself and my oldest daughter caught the stomach bug from my youngest, but we had you all in mind, and stayed home until we knew we wouldn’t get you sick. We are just asking for the same consideration.