Lesson in waiting room etiquette

Alby was still not a well monkey this morning and so after much deliberation I booked him an emergency appointment at my parent’s GP surgery. 

He is a funny little boy – despite feeling poorly he woke up brightly enough, sat up in bed and started clapping (his very newly acquired skill).  It seems half way through however he remember he was a sick baby and so pulled the saddest face I’ve ever seen on him, but he didn’t stop clapping. 

When we were in the doctor’s surgery another little girl came in with her mother, and she came over to play with Alby.  At 17 months old she is walking like a pro and would run over to the toy box, get a toy to give Alby and then rush back again.  The mum was in good spirits and we chatted a little bit.  She asked me why I was at the doctor’s and I said very honestly that Alby had been sick for the last day and I thought I should just have it checked out.  With that she smiled sweetly and then moved herself and her daughter to the other side of the waiting room.

I have no issue whatsoever with her wanting to keep her child free from any sickness bugs – that’s just good common sense.  But it left me wondering what is the correct etiquette in such a scenario?  As her child walks over to Alby am I supposed to put my arms up and say “No.  Stand back, this child is sick”?  Was I wrong to let him leave my arms?  Am I supposed to keep Alby away from the toys just in case another child might come in who wants to play with them? 

(If so, then the reception staff should have been quicker at getting me seen as neither my mum nor I can keep Alby entertained for an entire hour without props and that’s how long we were left waiting for but I’ll save that rant for another day).

And anyway, is it right to ask what is wrong with somebody when you are at the doctors?  At that point I had no idea whether Alby had a stomach bug or food poisoning or an allergic reaction to something.  I had no idea if he was contagious or if his sickness was for him and him alone.

I don’t know what the answer is, but sadly perhaps, I’ll think twice the next time Alby is in a waiting room with other children.

When we did finally see the Doctor he gave Alby a basic examination to ensure there was nothing sinister underlying what he suspects is just a virus of some sort.  To check for dehydration he pinched Alby’s skin to see if it stayed pinched.  However, I see a flaw in his technique when it comes to my chunky monkey – pinching his chubby little moobs wouldn’t give an accurate assessment unless Alby had stayed away from food and drink for a whole week.