All the recent "flu" headlines, be it swine or the seasonal flu, have created quite a situation in our valley. They are telling us not to rush to the doctor or emergency room for treatment of flu like symptoms, yet how do you know what you have without an official diagnosis.

Take my daughter for example. She was home sick for three days last week. I didn't take her to the doctor, I simply treated her like she had the flu until she was better and could go back to her dorm room. Did she have the swine flu or just the regular flu? And if I don't know whether she had the swine flu, do I still need to get her vaccinated? See what I mean? It is a conundrum.

How many people have already dealt with the swine flu and are naturally immune to it now? If they don't want us to go to the doctor for our flu symptoms, how will we ever know? How many swine vaccinations will be given to people who have no need for it because of this? The whole thing is rather confusing.

Add to all this confusion the situation for school children. Schools don't want you to come sick, they are asking that we keep any ill children, no matter how slight the symptoms, home until they are completely better. The problem occurs when you align this request with the attendance policies of most schools. I know many schools require a doctor's note for an excused absence, yet they don't want us to go to the doctor. And now we are back to the conundrum again.

I always had a hard time with the doctors note for an excused absence. Rarely did I ever take my children to the doctor, but that didn't mean they never got sick. They would have all the same bouts with colds and flu viruses over the years, forcing the school absences, but not sick enough to be seen by a professional medical person. I understand that there are parents out there who will allow their children to "skip" school and call in for them, but it would be hurtful to me when I would call to excuse an ill child and have that not be good enough for the school.

So now we find ourselves in quite the situation with our educational system. Schools are going to have to become more flexible regarding their attendance policies, and more trusting of parents. Sure, there will still be those who will take advantage of the situation, but at this point, it is better to error on the side of caution.