Poor little Jackson seems to have had quite enough of being sick.
Ah, children and their impeccable timing when it comes to falling ill—though they certainly aren’t enjoying it either. Recently, Mark Hart, the husband of pop star Pink, shared a relatable tale on Instagram that had many parents nodding in agreement and saying, “Yep, been there.” While not all of us are jet-setting around the world on a concert tour, every parent has experienced the inconvenient timing of a child’s illness.
Mark posted an endearingly sad picture of their one-year-old son, Jackson, who was suffering from a rash. He wrote, “Want to know how glamorous touring can be? Jackson has hand, foot, and mouth disease, and his sister, Lily, is running a 102-degree fever. Both kids are down for the count, yet mama @pink still has to push forward and perform.”
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, hand, foot, and mouth disease can lead to painful blisters in the mouth and on the hands, feet, and other areas. While symptoms generally last a little over a week, they can be quite uncomfortable.
Mark also took a moment to address a woman who stared disapprovingly at Jackson in a restaurant. He humorously remarked, “I had Jackson at breakfast yesterday, and this awful woman next to us couldn’t stop giving him dirty looks. I told her it was bed bugs. #NoRestForTheWicked #LifeInHotels.”
Mark wasn’t the only one facing scrutiny; several commenters criticized him for taking a sick child out in public. Hand, foot, and mouth disease can be contagious during the first week of infection, typically through direct contact with saliva, nose and throat secretions, or stool of an infected person.
In response to the critics, Mark sarcastically replied, “Yeah, I took my kid to breakfast only wearing a diaper,” addressing their assumptions about Jackson’s attire. He also countered concerns about the illness’s contagious nature, stating, “What’s your point? You think I let my kids eat off other people’s plates?”
The family has had its share of health challenges while on tour. Pink recently had to cancel several performances in Sydney due to a gastric virus. When some online trolls criticized her for being seen at the beach with her daughter after canceling shows, she had some stern words for her detractors. “I’ve been sick twice (and so have the kids) on this Australian tour. The first time we got ill, I managed to push through. This time, the paparazzi don’t capture the reality: two doctor visits in Byron on consecutive days, antibiotics, steroids, Vick’s, nose spray, throat spray, and countless sleepless nights with a crying baby. Meanwhile, I’m giving Jackson warm baths and assuring Lily that everything is fine.”
We wish this resilient family a swift recovery. For more parenting tips and insights, you can explore our blog’s resources, including invaluable information on at-home insemination kits, which can be found here. Additionally, if you’re interested in fertility resources, this is a great source.
Summarizing, Mark Hart shared on social media the challenges his family faced when their son Jackson caught hand, foot, and mouth disease while on tour with Pink. Despite the difficulties, Mark humorously addressed critics and emphasized the realities of parenting during such trying times.

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