I am utterly horrified. Not only is this dangerous, controlling, traumatizing and plain old gross, it's also illogical. Trying to ensure your kid has chicken pox, when he or she may never even contract it? On what planet does that seem like a good idea?!

I don't know that I agree with having pox parties but I heard that the vaccine does wear off over time and needs to be re-administered to older kids (teens) and adults who haven't had it. I'm planning to ask my pediatrician at our next appointment about that. My husband and I both had it as children so I think the chances of us getting it again are slim. But I may ask my PCP about it.

I have heard of this, and think they happen around here occasionally. I sort of see the logic on this, I am a bit nervous about the vaccine too- it just seems like chicken pox is generally no big deal for kids, but I would hate to be setting an entire generation up to get it as adults. But, I went ahead and had my kids vaccinated, it just seemed like this was a case of going with the flow and hoping it's the right thing.

I havent' heard of it happening now, but that's what my parents did back in the 70s. The rule then was as soon as you heard someone had it, you brought your kids over to expose them, to get it over with. My siblings and I all caught it this way.

Here's something to consider: from the CDC, a reminder that in rare cases, chicken pox can be deadly:

What are the serious complications from chickenpox?
Serious complications from chickenpox include bacterial infections which can involve many sites of the body including the skin, tissues under the skin, bone, lungs (pneumonia), joints, and blood. Other serious complications are due directly to infection with the varicella-zoster virus and include viral pneumonia, bleeding problems, and infection of the brain (encephalitis). Many people are not aware that before a vaccine was available approximately 10,600 persons were hospitalized and 100 to 150 died as a result of chickenpox in the U.S. every year.