Working moms and sick kids

DD started Nursery School this year and I work part time. It seems like she is sick every other week! My husband and I alternate who will stay home but it gets hard. I have called out 3 times already since beginning of December and I only work part time. Seems like she is sick always on a day that falls as work for me.

What do you do??? How are you supoosed to handle this.

Today she woke up with fever.

Re: Working moms and sick kids

I've been lucky in that my MIL can watch DD when she is sick if DH or I can't.

Working moms and sick kids

It's hard - we have gone through a good stretch but, DS 2 has been sick this week. DH does most of the staying home since he works 2-24 hr shifts a week but, once they are set he can't move them so either me or my inlaws stay home. If it's a Friday, my mom will come - or if it's a long illness like when DS 1 had chicken pox, she will take a day off as well.

Re: Working moms and sick kids

Re: Working moms and sick kids

DD started daycare last January. I can not tell you how many times I had to stay home with her from then until the summer. luckily I was able to work from home and she was only 6 months old when she started, so she was still taking a few naps and it worked out okay.

Luckily, knock on wood, she has not been out sick yet this winter. But at 19 months old I can not work from home and expect to get any work done, so I'll have to take the days if I have to stay home with her. Thankfully I work for a very family oriented company and it's not an issue. I have no one else who can watch DD, so it's all on me.

Do you have family who can help out? Is working from home an option? Maybe a mothers helper can play with your DD while you work from home. I considered that at one point.

Re: Working moms and sick kids

Message edited 1/31/2013 12:01:00 PM.

Re: Working moms and sick kids

i am lucky enough to work from home. Its not easy at all but i do it. She basically gets away with anything she normally wouldnt cause i just need her to be good and quiet


sometimes i wish i would just use a sick day but 99.9% of the time my job would rather me work from home if i can.

Re: Working moms and sick kids

Which is where we learn what ‘sick’ really is ‘sick’. Even fevers are explained away. If she just got a shot, she’ll be fine then get warm. Which is why they won’t send her home unless she’s over 100. I will give her Tylenol on those days to keep it below that temp. I have even show up during lunch to make sure. Tylenol, then shot, then school.

She only stays home with fever. End of story

Sniffles and a cough, she goes in. I don’t care what color her snot is, she goes. I’m a FTWM and my hubby works FT as well. We switch off when she’s sick by day. One day me, next him, then we move to half day me (AM), half day him (PM). That’s 3 days if that’s not enough to get us to a weekend we will go back to alternating. Generally though 3 days is enough and it costs us one day off and at work a day and a half.

With Ear infections nearly monthly, it ticked me off when they’d call for a ‘fever’ only to find out it was because they used an ear thermometer in the infected ear. Thanks, I knew that. She has no fever. So I’d push back and send her in the next day. You don’t ‘catch’ an ear infection in toddlers. Once she got tubes in her ears this greatly reduced.

It was really just those first two years that were rough. I would use most of my sick days (10) in a year pretty easily. I would work from home when I could and what I could. Times when she was out due to an injury (like her leg) I took her to work with me and got stuff done for a few hours, then took her in to the doc.

72hrs from her first fever she’s in a doctors office no matter what. But in all she missed/misses very few days of school (therefore I miss less of work) because the rule is, no fever then you go to school. Low grade fever and I’ll end her in with Motrin and hope for the best. If she gets a fever then it’s not until later in the day. Yes, she’s out 24hrs from her detected fever at school.

Needless to say its a juggle. But like everything, it DOES get better. I find her 'exposure' to daycare got her sick but built up her immunities. Now she rarely gets sick.

Working moms and sick kids

DS is in daycare 3 days a week and has been there since 8 weeks. Unless he has a fever or stomach issues he goes. running nose & cough...he goes. And so does every other kid.

DS had a fever last night and has the croup so we kept him home today. My husband stayed home since its usually me. My job is very flexible and understanding so if I am able to get some work done at home I do not have to use a day.

Re: Working moms and sick kids

Re: Working moms and sick kids

Message edited 1/31/2013 12:18:58 PM.

Re: Working moms and sick kids

BOTTOM LINE:

YOur boss has to be supportive. Explain your situation and explain that the first year of so will be difficult and you will be taking time off. Just be upfront and let your boss know... it's doesn't look good but you do not have any other options.

hopefully they will understand b/c there is NOTHING you can do that you aren't already doing.

I just got back from Mat leave Jan2. This is only my SECOND full week of work since being back. I feel your pain!!

Re: Working moms and sick kids

We also alternate, but also - I only keep her home if she has a fever. I do not keep her home for every little cold.

Re: Working moms and sick kids

When DS#1 started preschool last year, it felt like he got sick ALL the time. Thankfully, we had a full time nanny back then so he would watch both boys.

DS#2 just started preschool and has had to stay home twice in the past 4 months. One day I worked from home. The other time, DH and I traded off. I took the morning off and then DH took the afternoon off.

DS#1 doesn't get sick much anymore. They both have on/off colds but nothing that keeps them home from school.

Re: Working moms and sick kids

Re: Working moms and sick kids

Re: Working moms and sick kids

Posted by Linda1003

BOTTOM LINE:

YOur boss has to be supportive. Explain your situation and explain that the first year of so will be difficult and you will be taking time off. Just be upfront and let your boss know... it's doesn't look good but you do not have any other options.

hopefully they will understand b/c there is NOTHING you can do that you aren't already doing.

I just got back from Mat leave Jan2. This is only my SECOND full week of work since being back. I feel your pain!!

Re: Working moms and sick kids

Posted by blu6385

i am lucky enough to work from home. Its not easy at all but i do it. She basically gets away with anything she normally wouldnt cause i just need her to be good and quiet


sometimes i wish i would just use a sick day but 99.9% of the time my job would rather me work from home if i can.

Re: Working moms and sick kids

This whole week DD has been home with the flu. Rather than me take 5 sick days this week, DH and I have been working half days each day. He stays home with her in the am.. I leave work and get home at noon and stay with her.
Thankfully my boss is kinda understanding, but I do make an effort to not totally call out all week, and come in for half day daily.
We have no one to watch her at all, as we live out of state. This is just how it has to be.

Message edited 1/31/2013 1:31:46 PM.

Re: Working moms and sick kids

I am lucky enough to work from home when I need to so that's what I do...but my prior job I couldn't...it is really tough