@anthonyinalabama Oh man, sorry that was their response to you! I mean, yea I get it. We can't helicopter over our babies, but whatever the message...delivery is key! I'm a FTM too and I'm diagnosed with PPD. My LO got RSV at 3 months old from his cousin (who is a 2 year old kiddo that goes to daycare. And that's where he got it from). Thankfully everything was soooo mild and he got through it like a champ, but I felt soooo guilty and so angry about him getting sick. I obsessed over it.
My therapist told me essentially this: yes, kids will get sick. This isn't the last time he will get sick. It's really unfortunate and scary at first, but we have the tools to help them get through it. But also think about it in terms of social benefit. Yes, if you know the other kid is sick...keep them home, duh. But we don't always know this. And it would be so much worse developmentally to deprive your child of social interaction because you're afraid of the
chance of them getting sick. There's actual real data behind this.
All this to say....we're all doing our best. Try to move forward with grace. I try to not let my PPD or PPA get in the way of my kid's development and opportunities. Unchecked anxiety eats away at our ability to bond appropriately with our babies too. It's ok to be anxious about germs. You're being a good mom by even caring! But also try not to let the anxiety take over. It's so, so hard to do, but our babies are worth it.
