constantly sick - time off -

[moodlesoup]

my dd1 has been at nursery since beginning of july, and she's constantly ill.
first it was conjunctivitis, then cold after cold, then chicken pox, then another cold, then a stomach bug, and now a chest infection. poor little love.

i'm having my 8th day off work since july and its stressing me out. i'm freelance so i don't get paid for the days off, and i'm paying for nursery as well... money is soooo tight for us right now and my DH can't get any time off either as he's in the same boat. i'm sure they're going to terminate my contract as soon as they can as i've just become so unreliable. i don't know what to do as she does and must come first, but it is worrying me....
anyone got any pearls of wisdom?
thanks
x

[pinkteddy]

Unfortunately if you both work then you both need to pull together when it comes to children- can your DH really not get any time off at all? Even if he could take 1 day off here and there it would take the pressure off you. Have you got any family near by or good friends that might be able to step in if need be. Its really good to build up those kind of relationships if you haven't got them already. I know it can be easier said than done - but you can do them favours in return. HTH

[moodlesoup]

hi... we both work in yorkshire and live in manchester and - my family are all in australia, DH's are in the midlands and too old to help.
we've just moved here, so we don't have that many friends i can call on. the problem is that when she's sick she wants me or DH - not any of our friends. i'm trying to build up friendships but it takes time, something i don't really have as all i seem to do is commute to and from sodding yorkshire every day!
god i sound negative, sorry, don't mean to, just feel so bloody trapped by my situation, and just want to run home to australia!
thanks for your post.x

[Bushnels]

Can you work more flexibly? I know it depends on your type of work but if say she is sick and you stay home could you work in the evening when DP gets home or weekends to make up for lost time.

This is the hardest thing about working with kids I think.

[pinkteddy]

I know its difficult when they are ill, dd has had chickenpox this year and conjunctivitis and various other ailments, fortunately I only work 18 hours but it always seems to occur on my days! Having said that my DH is very good and will take time off if he can. There are no easy answers are there? Nurseries can be very strict on these things, might a child minder be a bit more flexible? Something to consider maybe. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful, maybe someone else will come along with some pearls of wisdom!

[lisasimpson]

sorry to say that there is no quick fix to this. We have been through it with both children - constant illness throughout the first couple of winters they were at nursery. I lost count of how many times me and my DH discussed one of us leaving work.
My four year old is hardly ever off now but we have discussed moving our 16 month old to a childminder. There is less contact with other babies there and they are sometimes less strict with their policies - depending on the individual.

I know this is not much help - but you are by no means alone. Hope you get a break soon

[mumtoone]

Its worth bareing in mind that the situation should improve as your dd gets older. I know when my ds first started nursery I started to worry about how I would hold down a job as he was ill so often but he is much better now he's 3. I don't think he's missed a day of nursery in the last 18 months due to illness. I know friends who have found a similar pattern. Try and remain positive - things should improve.

[moodlesoup]

thanks everyone. that's really good to know. guess first years are the hardest and it will get easier. just have to relax and go with it.
thanks again.