If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

As many other little kids, my kids get sick pretty frequently. I'm sure at least one or both kids will be sick once a month.

Who stays home with the kids?
How many days do you take off on average per year due to your kids being sick?

I know it will be me. DH says we can take turns but I know DH will not cancel a full day of clinic (50 patients) or cancel a surgery so he can stay home with the kids.

I very clearly remember professional colleagues rolling their eyes when the moms would take off because their kid was sick.

This was never an issue when we were living in NY because my parents were local.

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

Can you attempt to find a babysitter? Use her for nights out with DH and then last minute sick days?

If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

We have no family here, as we live out of state. I usually stay home day 1 and/or 2. DH will then stay home any remaining time. I am blowing through my sick time at work ever since having Dd. she's 16 mos and was sick a lot during the springtime and again last week. I get about 15 days per yr plus 2 personal days which I've used for this too

If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

My DH and I alternate or see if one of the ILs can watch him. If he is sick sick then it is usually one of us as I would worry too much with the ILs

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

We take turns depending on who is busier/has meetings /etc. If we are in a BIG pinch we may ask ILs, but that is a last resort.

The first year we took off much more often, the older they get it happens much less.

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

i can work from home so i will do that and my boss has no problem with it; i always offer to use a sick day. If its for a long period of time or i have to go in DH will take off. While my parents are local they both work so i cant depend on them taking her when she is sick.

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

knock on wood, only once has DS#1 stayed home from school because he was sick. DH stayed home.

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

Message edited 7/24/2012 10:31:24 AM.

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

Most of the time we rotate. DH does get paid days off and I don't though. We also have no family in the area to help out. I only work part time, but in a professional position. It is a major inconvenience if I call in, but I never call in for myself and 99% of the time I give a 24 hr heads up that I may have too.

As far as i'm concerned though i'm Mom first and professional 2nd. Recently my boss mentioned I should have a back up plan if I need to call in. I was put off my the statement and didn't really respond (convo via email) In 4 1/2 yrs I think I may have took 5 days off last minute because of my kids.

As far as i'm concerned DHs job is the priority since he's FT, pays the bills, has the health insurance, etc. He's trying to help me out by taking the time off if he's able to. I couldn't imagine having someone else watch my kids if they're sick with a fever. If they just have a cold they go to day care.

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

My parents are awesome - but if they are not available or the kids have a stomach thing I don't want them to spread, I stay home -

Unfortunately most of my sick and vacation time is spent on them being sick -
but I'm not in meeting w/ the CFO, DH is - so, his schedule trumps mine. No matter how many people roll their eyes at me - it just is what it is.

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

Usually it's me, but I work for a very family oriented, flexible company. I work from home on days that DD is sick. Once in a while if I have something going on that I need to be in the office for DH will stay home with DD, but his company is NOT flexible and he loses out on a bonus if he has to call in sick, so it's very rare that he is the one to stay home.

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

I do because I can work from home.
So if DD is sick I just work from home that day

Thankfully (KNOCK WOOD) she isn't sick that often though

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

My job is very good about me being out when DD is sick.

I always take off instead of DH b/c it's easier for me.

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

It really depends. Luckily DH's parents are retired and can watch DD if she is sick. If they can't, or she is too sick and I want to be home, I can take off. DH is a teacher so he can take off easier than I can (corp. banking). I can also take work home.

If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

I do. DH never does because he simply can't handle sick DD on his own - sad to say, but true. Otherwise, my parents will alternate with me. When DD got pretty sick this Winter, I stayed home one day and another day my mom did so it worked out well.

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

Most of the time DH and I switch off. If we know the night before that one of the kids will be home the next day sick, we will try to find a babysitter.

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

usually I do just because I prefer to take care of them when they are sick. However, if it is a critical time at work where it would be difficult for me not to work that day DH will stay home with them. My job is just a little more flexible as opposed to his (he's a teacher). I have the option of working from home so things can still get done while I'm not there if need be.

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

We have not had to deal with this yet, but we will starting in Sept. when ODD is in preschool and YDD is in daycare.

We have family nearby but they all work.

We are going to have to alternate. Either take days off or partially work from home. Luckily both of us have jobs where we can easily work from home, unless we have meetings scheduled.

If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

It depends. DH works from home and gets more time off than me so it kinda depends on whose busy time it, if I have the time to take and even the illness itself.

We don't have family nearby and even if we did, they all have jobs.

Message edited 7/24/2012 2:18:41 PM.

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

99% of the time it's me who takes off, I have the more flexible job and also have the opportunity to work from home.

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

mostly dh bedcauzse he has more vac days and less critcal work in claims.

Re: If your kids go to school/daycare, who stays home if your DC is sick?

my parents work and DH's parents live far away and we don't really have anyone else so DH and I take off to watch DS when he is sick. i take off more than DH because he has times of year that he cannot take off and because honestly I can get away with it more at work. But DS was sick A LOT last year and it sucked! It was really hard on me. I keep saying I am going to find a babysitter for those last minute times but I still haven't figured out how to find someone I can get to know well enough if I don't need them much besides those few days.