Sick child in my chair... why?

[Sherry]

I don't understand why people think it's a good idea to get a sickly child face painted.  Earlier this week, I was face painting at an event for a doctor's office... yes, a doctor's office.  I hear one of the people employed there on the phone.  "Oh, he's sick?  Poor guy.  So, you're going to bring him in a little bit later?  O.k.  Bye."

I'm thinking, Oh no, please don't bring your sick child in.  A few hours later, I spot who I think must be the child they were talking about.  His mother who works there and has just arrived plops him up in my chair.  He looks like he's around 3 and his eyes are big, watery and sickly looking.  He has some sort of rash surrounding both eyes and then more of the same near his mouth and chin.

I'm not the type that is comfortable being confrontational, so I just look at him for a minute trying to figure out how to say this in the nicest way.  The whole time I'm sitting there dumbfounded the mom is discussing with him what he should get face painted.  She wants one thing on the cheek so it won't be on his eyes, but he keeps insisting on getting the tiger.  I finally tell her that I really can't paint him like that.  She says that he has conjunctivitus, but he has his medicine on.  She wants me to paint his cheek.  I really don't want to paint him at all, but tell her I can paint on his arm, but I'm not supposed to face paint when they're sick.

I paint a tiger on his arm and then they want a balloon.  He's stays in the room playing and batting around his balloon until it's time for me to pack up.  His mom laughs that this is him sick.  Joking about how active he is even when he's sick. I don't understand why parents want to bring around their sick children to get face painted.  I don't want to get sick, that's for sure.  I can't work when I'm sick.  Why not let them stay home until they're better?

[MsMollie]

Like Forest Gump says...stupid is as stupid does...pretty stupid i think for a woman to bring a sick child in for you to paint....why don't we all just see how far we can spread our germs today?...dumb woman

[jubob]

Also poor child should be at home being mothered not running around 

[sparklingfaces]

awe - sorry to hear that.

I can see both sides of the situation, but you handled it great!!
Now once you come up with a "nice" response for crusty noses... let me know.... hahahhaa

( I dont know why - but parents always seem soooo offended when I ask them to wipe their kids noses )

[Psalmbook]

My reply: "health regulations won't allow me to face paint a child w/ open soars, eye infections or obvious illness(or lice). Want a temporary tattoo take home?"
I keep a few temp tattoos around just for this.

[Sherry]

Nice and professional, I like it... thanks!