Working moms - how sick is DC when you take off from work?

I feel like I have used up so many of my vacation/sick days for DS bc I can't bear to leave him with the babysitter or my mom when he is not feeling well and cranky.

i feel guilty bc he is so hard to take care of when he is sick and that he only wants mommy.

Like today, he has some funky virus for a week now that is making him vomit, cough, cold, no appetite and he was SOOO fussy and needy today. He just wanted me to hold him.

I went to work on the rest of the week but my mom and the babysitter looked worn out when I picked him up and he was so happy to see me when I came home.

At what level of sickness do you take off from work?

I feel so guilty for being at work today.

Re: Working moms - how sick is DC when you take off from work?

Honestly? I haven't taken any time off of work due to Athan being sick... yet. It's because my mom watches him now, and I know he is getting great care and is being comforted and held and coddled.

Plus - knock on wood - he has only had one cold and that just lasted one weekend day. I am sure once he is in day care in a month I will be taking more time off to be with him and stay with him if he is sick - and by sick I mean vomiting and fever. I don't think a cough would keep me home, but then again who knows, I am a softy.

Re: Working moms - how sick is DC when you take off from work?

This is the hardest part about being a working mom - juggling the sickness with work. He only stays home if he is vomitting. My daycare is good b/c it is small and they have a lot of counselors, so if he has a slight temperature, they will let me bring him in and he will stay with one counselor and away from the rest of the kids. The head of the daycare says that he typically sleeps more and she can give him tylenol (MAT certified). If he has a cold or cough - he is going. I feel bad b/c some of those days he is really cranky and needy, but I need to save up my days for when he gets a nasty virus. My boss also isn't so sympathetic and tends to get annoyed when I take off b/c DS is sick. It sux.

Re: Working moms - how sick is DC when you take off from work?

Re: Working moms - how sick is DC when you take off from work?

I guage it on her personality more than anything else - if she's clingy, lethargic and not herself, I'll stay home with her. Thankfully it isn't all that often, and when it does happen, I can work from home so I don't have to use any sick/vacation time.

Re: Working moms - how sick is DC when you take off from work?

I'm in work today for the first time all week long but DD was obviously sick - 102 fever for 2 whole flippin days and a double ear infection. Now of course, I'm not feeling well but my health is pretty much irrelevant at this point.

For me it's different because DD is in day care and I don't have the option of sending her in sick - they'll just call me to come get her if I do. I've taken off so much time this year due to DD's health I'm pretty sure I'll run out of sick/vacation time by August.

Message edited 4/23/2009 11:05:29 AM.

Re: Working moms - how sick is DC when you take off from work?

DS was just sick for the first time and thankfully it's just an ear infefctioon.

Fortunately, my MIL watches DS, so I've just been leaving work extra early to be with him. I'm sure if he was sicker with fever, vomitting, etc. I would take off entirely to be w/ him.

Rebecca - I'm sick now too, and I'm not taking off for that either. blech

Re: Working moms - how sick is DC when you take off from work?

Im home right now with Abby because of pink eye. My BIL had to pick her up and take her to the doctor for me because I simply could not leave.

Two weeks ago I took a day for her ear infection, DH took a day, my sister took a day and my MIL took two days to stay with her.

If I could give any piece of advice to women who are TTC or PG and do not plan to be SAHMs, it would be to bank your sick days and not tack them on to your maternity leave. BIG mistake. You NEED to be able to leave your work at a moments' notice and have back-up if you cannot.

Re: Working moms - how sick is DC when you take off from work?

Re: Working moms - how sick is DC when you take off from work?

If she can't go to daycare then I have to stay home....usually if she has a fever or something contagious like a stomach virus or pinkeye. I've used a lot of my sick days this year for her!

Re: Working moms - how sick is DC when you take off from work?

Most of time when they're sick but still somewhat active, we'll take them to my ILs if I have a lot of meetings at work. I will stay home if they are really sick and very lethargic.

Message edited 4/23/2009 11:23:10 AM.

Re: Working moms - how sick is DC when you take off from work?

Posted by chikita315

Rebecca - I'm sick now too, and I'm not taking off for that either. blech

Re: Working moms - how sick is DC when you take off from work?

He would have to be pretty sick with something contagious, not just if he was cranky or needy. I have pretty much unlimited sick days, and by law I can have 3 emergency days off. Also, my company is very family friendly so they will be flexible, we can work at home (as much as we can) if our kids are sick. Its a sad state of affairs that we can't be with our kids when they are sick because of holiday days, the government should have some kind of bottom line on this that is fair to parents.

Re: Working moms - how sick is DC when you take off from work?

if DS has a fever, vomiting/diarrhea, is coughing badly, or has a ton of snot dripping down, then I stay home. and more so for my DS sake as i know he feels horrible and wants mommy or daddy. If its just a little cold, cough, sneezing, then my SIL and daycare still takes him