Sick kids and working parents
One of the most difficult things about being a working parent is the pull you feel when a child wakes up sick, yet you still have to be at work. My job is pretty flexible, but there are a very few days when I must be there.
Today was one of those days.
My middle child is straddling the line between being sick and well. He’s not sick enough to be really sick, but he’s not quite “well” either.
I made the mistake of asking him if he felt like going to school this morning, I couldn’t decide how he was feeling. Unlike my oldest child who will give the question genuine thought, my middle one immediately said, “No, I need to stay home,” and so it was.
Things are a lot easier now that he’s old enough to stay by himself in certain situations. I took him back home (we’d driven to school) and let him sleep for a while. When he woke up, I went on to work for a while since I really needed to be there for several reasons.
I came back home at lunch and took him to the doctor (he’s fine) and took him back home and went back to work again since his dad was going to be home shortly after that. I even accomplished a few things while I was at work, too.
Like I said, that particular juggle is a little easier on the schedule now that they’re older, but apparently it’s harder on the car because I put over 100 miles on it today.
This has got to be one of the most difficult pitfalls of working parents (well, that and in our area anyway, the dreaded 1/2 day, where there is no aftercare provided to bridge the gap).
Like you, I am fortunate enough that both the wife and I both have some flexibility to our schedules that we can often account for these situations without too much stress, though now that I have a staff it is far more difficult. I can’t imagine how people that have jobs that do not offer such flexibility survive it.
My child has asthma and it is very difficult to balance. Sometimes, I wonder if I am going into work just to get my pink slip. I have to miss work at least once a week to take him to the doctor or pick him up from school due to his chronic illness. I filed the absences under FMLA but I am sure my major company can find a reason to get rid of me if the absences persist. I just don’t know what else to do at this point. Isn’t my child’s wellness more important than my work? Of course it is. I have to have faith that what is meant to be with my job will happen and I will have to find a way to survive if his sickness continues to get worse.