Question for working moms with kids...

allwildgirl

allwildgirl

Cathlete
What do you do when your kids are too sick to go to school? And how do you gauge what "too sick for school" is?

Do you stay home? Does your DH? Do you alternate? Do you get someone else to watch them?

Thanks:)
 
Hi Shelley,

Fortunately, my dh works on weekends now and is home on the weekdays, and I usually work during the weekdays, except today, they didn't call me:( (substitute teacher).

But, when we both worked the same hours, it was hard. Usually, it was me who had to take the time off, mostly at the request of my kids. But I think it should be divided up evenly and alternate. Especially, if the child is sick for more than a day at a time. I wouldn't want to risk falling too far behind at work.

Why do you ask? If I remember right, you have a dd? I hope she is alright and not too sick.

Take care,

Carrie

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http://www.picturetrail.com/uid6743693"
 
Thanks, Carrie. Yes, my DD is sick. Started Saturday night and she's still feeling pretty icky. So we're home today, but I always feel so horribly guilty. If I send her to school, I feel guilty... If I stay home, I feel guilty. Nothing like being caught between a rock and a hard place, huh?
 
This has only come up once since my daughter started school. Luckily, I have the option of working from home in a case like this, so I would most likely take the day. If I had something very important to do at the office (like a meeting that I HAD to attend in person and not on a confra call), my husband would stay home with her.

My definition of "too sick for school" is...a fever, vomitting or diarrhea. Of course, there are times when I feel too sick to go anywhere and have none of those symptoms, so I would really just have to see how she's behaving.

She was breast fed and was in daycare from the time she was 9 weeks old. She has a great immune system now.
 
Usually it is me. I have more flexibility in my work than DH. I've had my DD sick with tonsillitis for 3 days now so I feel for you.

Cheers
Liz N
 
Donna - Sophie was breastfed too. But this year she seems to have picked up every little thing going. Not sure what that's about.

She does have a low-grade fever and her throat is so sore that she's having trouble sleeping. She has a headache, cough and is sneezing too. Quite apart from the fact that she feels like dirt, I don't think the rest of the kids would be happy to have her spreading her germs all over them;)
 
Sorry to hear your dd's sick. Try not to feel guilty. Try to instead think of it as a free day to catch up on girl time. Your dd is so incredibly lucky to have a mom who can stay home with her to help her get better. SO many kids out there aren't that lucky. You're a great mom Shellie:)

Go rent a movie, grab some java and hot cocoa or broth and a comfy blanket for the two of you and relax. Just think, maybe there was some unknown reason for you to stay at home today. There's a reason for everything. Enjoy the day...

Stay safe and take care:)

Carrie

http://www.3fatchicks.net/img/bar072/slider-but5/lb/209/145/182.0/.png[/image][/link]

http://www.picturetrail.com/uid6743693"
 
Funny you ask... I am home today with my sick DS.

His dad and I are not together anymore. When he is sick, we take turns taking days. It is usually pretty even.

When he is really sick [throwing up, etc.] one of us is always with him if at all possible. If it is something more minor, we call on the grandparents.

Please STOP the MOMMY GUILT! You are a mommy first -- your job can survive without you for a day, but DD maybe can't.
 
Collinsmom:

Thanks:) I'm a single mom too, but Sophie's dad rarely takes a day off (his boss is a psycho). Grandma will often help out but wasn't available today.
 
oh, oh, oh...that sounds bad. Are you going to take her to the pediatrician? Poor baby. I'm sure SOMETHING like that is in Teri's future...we all get knocked down once in awhile.

Hope she feels better soon! Tomorrow should be DH's turn to stay home with her.
 
Something must be going around. . .

My DD12 is home sick today, too with DH. We alternate taking vacation days when one of the kids is sick. It usually depends on what we have going on at work and whether or not we can miss it. I wish we had grandparents to help out but the only one left is my mom who is 85 yo and 50 miles away.

My question is (sorry if this is hijacking your thread): At what age can you let a sick kid stay home by themself? At 12, DD seems too young. I suppose this depends a lot on the kid but was just wondering what other people thought.

Sue
 
I was very fortunate when my kids were small. The hospital I work at designated 2 or 3 rooms on the pediatric floor as "Kid Care" rooms and if you were lucky enough to call before they were full, you could leave your sick child in the care of a nurse all day. My kids loved it too. They got coloring books, popcicles on demand, cable TV. And was a couple minute walk away for me. Of course, the benefit is no longer available. It was axed in a cost saving effort.

Sick kid trumps work any day, so don't feel guilty.
 
Hi Shelley,

Thought I'd toss in my 2 cents. I have 2 girls (3y and 5y). They both go to the same daycare/Pre-K. This is their first year ever being away from home (I was a sahm up until January) so they are getting EVERY sickness they've never had (which is pretty much all of them). Oh the joys of a 2 week long ear infection/fever for one kid followed by 2 MORE weeks for the second kid. I am not joking...we just finished 2 weeks worth of antibiotics for both girls. It was rough. Thank goodness it pretty much happened over our Spring Break, so I only missed 2 days of work (this time!). I am usually the one who has to take off work (I'm a teacher and my schedule is a little tiny bit more flexible than my husband's)...I think DH actually expects me to take time off, since I make less money (if that makes sense).

Oh, and my kid's school won't let them stay if they have a fever over 101. But I wouldn't send them w/a fever anyway. I too worry about infecting other children.

Anyway, I'm rambling now....but know this: I've used all my sick days on my kids (and I started with 8 of them in Jan.)!! All I can say is thank goodness Summer is coming!!

Jamie
 
>Something must be going around. . .
>
>My DD12 is home sick today, too with DH. We alternate taking
>vacation days when one of the kids is sick. It usually
>depends on what we have going on at work and whether or not we
>can miss it. I wish we had grandparents to help out but the
>only one left is my mom who is 85 yo and 50 miles away.
>
>My question is (sorry if this is hijacking your thread): At
>what age can you let a sick kid stay home by themself? At 12,
>DD seems too young. I suppose this depends a lot on the kid
>but was just wondering what other people thought.
>
>Sue

I have a 19 and 14 year old. With the older, it was when he was in HS that I started letting him stay home sick. With my daughter, if she is not throwing up, I let her stay by herself now, and did last year. She has had issues with getting dehydrated, so if she is vomitting, one of us stays with her. She was often hospitalized when young for dehydration, so we tag teamed that as well.

Take heart folks with young kids. They do grow out of getting sick so often, and it does get easier.
 
Thanks for replying. That's about the age I was thinking too - high school. You bring up a good point about being ill and staying hydrated. A lot of kids probably wouldn't know that. I think it's just nicer, too, having a parent around when you're sick to comfort you, wait on you, spoil you, etc. Before you know it they'll be grown and on their own and might not get that care from someone else.

Sue
 
My wife and I bit a bullet that hurts our personal life, I work 3rd shift, she works days. There is always someone there for the kids.
 
I'm a student, so I am usually the one to stay home unless I have a lab or a test, then DH will stay home. DD's school sends children home if they have a temp above 100, but it all really depends on the symptoms. And if she did not sleep well and is still feeling bad in the morning, I keep her home to let her rest.

As someone else said, being a parent is the number one priority - your job will do fine without you for a day. Don't feel guilty because you will never be on your death bed thinking 'I wish I would have spent more time at work'. It's a great day to pamper your child and watch a movie together.
 
We have a nanny, so our issues come up when our nanny is sick, not the kids! But we take turns, usually. Or we'll split the day. It boils down to who has the easier day - if someone is packed with meetings, it's the other who stays home that day.
 
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