FT working moms

What do you do when your little one is sick???

Rj has been on a rollercoaster of illness since November... From a stomach virus, ear infection, croup, pneumonia, and now strep...

I have YET to call in sick for ANY of the above illness...

I usually ask my mom or MIL to watch him, but since my MIL works and my mom isnt always too reliable.. .I usually leave work a couple (meaning 2 hrs or less) early...

Rj runs really high fevers when he gets sick... 104-105 (we have even seen 106 ) and it kills me to leave him with anybody but me... I know everyone is capable... but with HIGH fevers such as those, Im so worried about febrile seizures and dehydration that I WANT TO BE THE ONE to care for him and supervise/control the illness.

My boss is always giving me cr@p about it (despite the fact that I put in an extra half an hour- hour in daily) and I work in a field where there should be an understanding of a childs health.

My DH is our "sole supporter" he was just promoted and previous to that was in training to be promoted... its not optional for him to stay home...

My baby (ok he is a big boy, but still my baby) cries for me whenever I leave him when he is sick... It breaks my heart he feels so terrible and he cant have me

I think showing up to work (despite I was up all night long giving luke warm baths and monitoring high fevers) and putting in at least 6-7hrs, shows Im still dedicated and take my job seriously... but really- WTH am I supposed to do???

Im so sick of this working mom thing... it sux!

Re: FT working moms

There is nothing harder than being a working mom when your baby is sick (no matter how old that baby is). We alternate - I usually take the 1st day, if we need a 2nd DH takes it and if we need a third we ask my MIL. I also have a condensed work week (work full time but packed into 4 days) so I have an extra day a week. All of that covers 4 days and we haven't had an instance yet where he can't go back to daycare for just the one day.

Hope RJ feels better!

Re: FT working moms

Hope RJ feels better!

Re: FT working moms

Hopefully he's getting all of his sicknesses done before your new baby comes.

I agree, DD runs high fevers at times too, it's the worst. I am very lucky that I have a lot of time off from work, so my schedule usually allows me to stay home with her. If I can't (and if DH can't), then she'll go to my MIL's, where she normally goes during the day, and she gets lots of TLC there.

But I agree, it is HARD leaving them when they're sick

Re: FT working moms

Thats the thing... I have both the personal and sick time to take off... and I dont but I still get sh!t for it

Re: FT working moms

It is your time! You are entitled to take it. If she doesn't understand then that is her problem.

Re: FT working moms

DH and I usually alternate. I have more time to use at work than DH, so I am usually the one to stay home with DS initially.

Re: FT working moms

I feel your pain. Luckily Laila hasn't been sick that often. But when she is I have to stay home with her. My boss is pretty understanding though. I'm surprised your boss is like that. It sucks to be a working mom. I know. I definately feel like my job has taken a back seat to being a mom. All you can do is try to balance it the best you can.

Hope RJ feels better.

Message edited 2/13/2009 8:20:54 AM.

Re: FT working moms

Its annoying but my company is very flexible with days off when our kids are sick, we can have 3 days free, but thats just a guideline, its up to our management's discretion to limit our days. My company is pretty family friendly, so if we have sick kids, we can do some work from home. I have no family to fall back on here, so its up to the flexibility of my company!

I hope RJ feels better soon!