I think I've blown my job today, would you have done the same?

[ilove]

I'm a supply teacher/cover supervisor through an agency covering primary and secondary across Yorkshire, I work adhoc days to suit what fits in with my own kids and family and we also foster.

U agreed to work today in what is a decent secondary not far from home. My husband was also working overtime (we've had a very tough January money wise), but because his car is broken he got a lift in at half five this morning with someone who works on the same site but in a totally different area. I had my car at school with me.

Right at the end of P3 (I'd already taught Y7 and Y9) I had a Y11 class, teaching geography. As we packed up I noticed my phone flashing madly and looked at it - missed calls, texts, whatsapp said, messenger and emails all saying URGENT, CONTACT ME OR SCHOOL, SERIOUS INJURY and missed calls from my kids school too.

I rang my husband to be told that our youngest had had a serious head and mouth injury, bleeding, teeth forced backwards, blood from his mouth and face and could I get there now...

So I went straight to the supply department, told them, said I was leaving and went. Rang school and said I was on my way, then rang my husband to say I was too, and rang my agency to explain and apologise.

Just to say, we have NO family help. None. My in laws are six hours away and my parents both work and are over an hour away but wouldn't have come anyway. My eldest son is 90 mins away and works shifts. There are no neighbours at home who could have stepped in, we really are on our own and that's why I do agency work.

The agency were clearly very poised off with me and told me I should not have left the school (the school, by the way, were lovely - told me to go and not to worry and took all the handover stuff straight off me)

My boy isn't good, he has split top and bottom lip, ripped his frenulum and looks to have broken the muscle in his top lip as well as pushing his two front teeth right backwards so his teeth don't close together properly. He is a ? Concussion and needs waking every three hours tonight. Dentist on Monday unless he feels worse tomorrow and will then get an emergency appt with 111. Hospital were lovely, and surprised an ambulance hadn't been called as the child he bumped heads with was in just as bad a state but has my sons teeth marks in his head (apparently it was a game of tag!!!)

So WIBU to have but my son first? WWYHD? Sat here fretting :(

[neonrainbow]

Absolutely not. There's always other jobs but your boy needed you.

[ilove]

Agency were/are pissed off with me not poised, and my husband couldn't get there without making someone else take forced leave from work to get him to school, then hospital, then home, then themselves back to work - taxis would have been over a hundred pounds for that

[Nimportequoi]

Or course YWNBU I would have dropped even more important things with the amount of info you had

[gBean]

Id have done exactly the same.

[Lostinmysoul]

I would have done exactly as you did. I have put my child before work more than once. Where I work now, I am able to help my staff to do the same. They would never be in trouble for leaving for sick / injured family.

[zara020]

In years to come, when you have moved on jobs wise and all this is a distant memory, your son will remember you were there for him when he needed you. You did what any loving mother would do and ywnbu!! I cant believe the agency would think otherwise!!

[AlwaysHopeful1]

Yanbu! Do they know the extent of your ds injuries that you had to leave asap? You were absolutely right to leave there that very second. Hope your ds recovers well

[vulgarbunting]

You did absolutely the right thing. I am quite sure your job will be safe. Please don't worry about it (easier said than done, I know).

[gleam]

What else could you do?

I wish your son a speedy recovery.

[OhPudding]

You've done nothing wrong. Your son was hurt, you OK'd it with the school. The agency have no right to be pissed off, so sod them.

[HelsBels3000]

completely with you on this - that was an emergency. Hope your boy is ok

[CointreauVersial]

What kind of heartless employer would have a problem with this?? It wasn't as if he just stubbed his toe - that was a nasty injury.

[FinnMcCool]

Yes I'd have done the same.
Your agency may well be pissed off, but they'll keep you on you are bringing them in money after all.
Hope your DS is ok.

[TheCarpenter]

I don't think you did anything wrong in leaving.

But personally I'd be angry with your DH. I cannot imagine a situation where no one would lose an hour or two of wages to take a parent to a child who needed hospital treatment, or drop a hundred pounds on taxis to see their own child if they had it.

Was he just ringing you over and over knowing the bairn needed medical attention? What if you hadn't been able to get the messages?

[HariboFrenzy]

Your poor son, and poor you! I can imagine how you must have felt seeing those missed calls and messages. I absolutely don't think you were unreasonable at all! You informed the school and the agency, its not like you just walked out!

hope your son is ok

[MyCatIsABiggerBastardThanYours]

Oh crikey no. You did absolutely the right thing. If the school didn't mind then it doesn't matter.

In fact I would consider complaining to the agency over their reaction.

I do hope your DS feels better soon.

[ilove]

We aren't even supposed to carry phones on us in schools, but some of the schools I go to are horrible and I won't have no means of summoning help - so that's one thing they can haul me over the coals for, let alone leaving. Ugh, I am still shaky but my boy is doing ok, he is sore and cuddly, and I am sure he will hate being woken several times tonight but needs must.

I'm glad others would have done the same. I've never, ever walked out before and I've done this job for three years. I'm bloody good at it and reliable, usually

[TheoriginalLEM]

There are loads and loads of teaching agencies and schools generally use more than one - tell them to stick it where the sun doesn't shine! Hoping yoru wee lad is on the mend soon. Its very scary. My DD bit through her tongue once, my God, the blood!

[BitOutOfPractice]

YWNBU and anybody who thinks you were needs a serious think about their priorities in life

Your poor boy. Hope he's OK

TheCarpenter not everyone has £100 to spend on taxis no matter how serious it is

[Waltermittythesequel]

I wouldn't have hesitated to do the same.

Of course you went to your child!

Agency can fuck off.

Wishing him a speedy recovery.

[JohnLuther]

I'd have absolutely done the same, I hope that he recovers as swift as possible

[lazyarse123]

You definitely did the right thing for you and your son. I think the agency were being unreasonable but if you can get the school you were at to have a word with them maybe that would help. Best wishes to your son and his friend.

[mariposa10]

I would put my child before work a million times over. You did the right thing. Sod the agency.

[TheCarpenter]

not everyone has £100 to spend on taxis no matter how serious it is

I'm aware of that, hence the phrasing if they had it. Jesus, even if he'd just got a taxi from the school a teacher could have helped. My son had a serious injury at school, also concussed. Headteacher took us through to the hospital as we also didn't have taxi fare.

What if OP didn't have her phone? OP acted brilliantly, had her priorities bang on.

[BillSykesDog]

Sounds like the agency are dicks. I wouldn't want to work for them anyway.