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My spouse and I will be taking several international flights next month to visit his family. We are both seniors. His parents, who we will be seeing, are both in poor health. I am adamant that I will be masked during the entire trip as I am concerned about catching something that I could spread to others. My spouse refuses to wear a mask because he finds it uncomfortable. He told me that he doesn’t care if he gives something to his parents that could be potentially fatal. I am not quite sure how to handle this situation.

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I have to say, it seems to me that you are looking for a reason to not go to this wedding. First, you asked about the feasibility of your MIL going to this wedding, now you come here asking about how to handle this situation of wearing a mask.

If you don't want to go to the wedding, then be upfront with your husband and tell him so. Stop trying to come up with a "good" excuse to not go.

It's no shame to not want to travel overseas for a wedding.

But what would be a shame is if you go and then be in the wrong mind frame, which is to be celebrating a huge occasion with the married couple, rather than looking for reasons to be in fine fettle (as my MIL would have said).
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Reply to notgoodenough
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My daughter and her ex both wore masks on flights and both caught covid, yes, even after getting vaccinated. If your husband's parents have no problem seeing him after taking international flights, then you're all set, since your only concern seems to be for their welfare.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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southernwave Feb 14, 2026
Curious if they were N95? I’m flying in May and worried about it. Thanks
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Will he use nasal products that might block germs?

Someone recommended this to me. I have no idea if it’s legit

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BGMBXDPX/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=AJ5RUDAH0WCKA&th=1
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Reply to southernwave
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He goes alone. Refusing to protect you is extremely inconsiderate, and his parents deserve better. He’s not worth dying over.
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Reply to Fawnby
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If his parents got sick during your visit, how would you prove that the germs came from him or you? Correlation is not causation. This is a basic principle of science.

Masking is not 100% effective if you don't wear an N95.

What type of poor health are his parents in? Are they immunocompromised? Do they have COPD or diabetes? Are they obese? Did they get a flu shot or covid vaccine? Both my very elderly Mom and MIL survived having the original covid because they didn't have pre-existing conditions.

Do you think his parents would want to see their son regardless of the risk? As a parent, I would always want to see my son.
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Reply to Geaton777
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lealonnie1 Feb 14, 2026
N95 masks are not 100% effective either! Life is a risk. Leaving the home is a risk. In fact, staying home is a risk too.....we can fall. This OP just doesn't want to go to this wedding and is finding lots of reasons not to, instead of just saying, "I don't want to go, it's too much for me at my age."

When mom was 90 and had mobility problems and some dementia, I told her not to come to my son's wedding. That it'd be too much for her. That we'd video it and show her that video later. Worked out perfectly.

OP, I suggest you do the same thing. Stay home and ask for a video of this wedding to be sent to you. Send the bride and groom an extra generous gift since you're saving all that $$$ on airfare. It's ok to pull out the "senior" card sometimes and use it. I do. So should you.
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You live in close proximity to your husband. If you wear a mask and he doesn't, it's not going to prevent you or him getting sick with something. If I were you, I would not even go. Tell him he can go on his own and visit his parents.
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Reply to BurntCaregiver
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notgoodenough Feb 14, 2026
I suspect she doesn't want to go, and is looking for a reason to not, rather than just be straight with her husband and tell him she's not going.
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The only thing the OP has under the OP's control is whether the OP travels. I suggest that the OP not travel.
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Reply to Rosered6
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You can not force him to wear a mask.
You can wear one yourself.
You could, if you feel strongly about this chose not to go with him to visit his parents.
If he has underlying medical conditions he and you should be worried that will effect him and his trip. No fun to be sick away from home. You might also look into travel insurance if you have not already purchased it. Trying to get someone home that is ill is a challenge. You might also want to determine what the process would be if he is hospitalized in another country.
I will add while masks can be very effective they are not 100% and there is the possibility that even with a mask either of you could become sick. But that would happen even at home. Some of the transmission is from your hands to mouth, nose and eyes. You touch something then rub your eyes, scratch your nose or take a bite of that sandwich.
Recirculated air on planes and the delays that may force you to sit on a tarmac for extended times add to the flight time you already have scheduled increases the chance of getting an upper respiratory illness.
So how you handle it...
You wear your mask if you decide to take this trip
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Reply to Grandma1954
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I just realized you have another thread posting about your husband's son's wedding and your husbands MIL wears depends and will have a CNA with her.

It sounds like your husband wants to support his son's wedding and go see his son and new wife and also his Mom and Dad.

Are you a second wife and not the bio Mom to your husband's son?

If you don't want to go just RSVP for your husband to go solo and you stay back home in the states.

You say you and your husband are seniors so it sounds like you are in your 60's and his parents are 80's 90's. There is no reason your husband can't
fly to the wedding solo in his 60's.

Tell your husband if you don't want to attend.

I fly a lot and almost no one is wearing masks. You would need to wear a N95 to prevent spread of germs. The problem is you need to at least remove the mask at some point to drink or you will get sick from dehydration.

It sounds like you need to tell your husband you are staying home.

Weddings are about happy joyous times and seeing family and hugging.
Don't attend if you cannot support and be happy for the bride and groom.
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lealonnie1 Feb 14, 2026
Ah yes. Now we have this OP not wanting to travel herself! The other post is the "overweight demented incontinent MIL" going to a wedding in Germany!


https://www.agingcare.com/questions/overweight-demented-incontinent-relative-at-wedding-497836.htm
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Masks prevent infection about as well as chain link fences keep out mosquitoes. Just drop it and let him do what he wants. It won't make any difference.
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