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Keeping dc home when I'm sick

213 replies

Woolywalrus · 21/03/2019 09:39

I don't send my dc to nursery or school when I'm sick as I can't pick them up at the end of the day. I wasn't able to leave my bed and this has happened just a few times over the last few years, probably 1-2 times a year for a day or 2 if you average it out. So not too often.

Normally Dh drops them off in the morning and I pick them up after work from aftercare as he works too late.

So if I'm too sick I keep them home. The eldest organises food for them and they just watch TV quietly.

My friend was shocked to hear I do this but she has her parents close by to help out so has that option for help.

So is this unreasonable and do other parents not do this? I'm sure lots do if they have no family or close friends to help.

Also my dc pretty healthy and don't have much time off school. The eldest has not had time off sick for a couple of years now. We also don't go away on holidays during term time.

OP posts:
WindowWeather · 21/03/2019 13:13

Does your youngest Nursery have a before and after school club?

I know in that situation my DDs Nursery would pick up both DC (I only have one) and take them back to the Nursery from School then drop them home again. There is a charge for this but at least the DCs are safe and cared for.

My DDs Nursery do this for me sometimes as I'm a single parent, they'll send a member of staff with a carseat drive her to Nursery from my house and drop her off again at the end of the day. As I said I have to pay but it's worth it for me to rest.

SpeedyBojangles · 21/03/2019 13:14

Oh, I've just seen that you would leave your 8 year old to look after them. In that case then yes, YABU!

Sirzy · 21/03/2019 13:20

Sorry they are at risk.

If you have someone close enough you could phone in an emergency then surely they can help with school runs?

If you would need to phone for help to even deal with an emergency then you shouldn’t be in sole care of children.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

cheeseypizza · 21/03/2019 13:26

Absolutely shocking! The more of your posts I read OP the more it sounds like neglect. Poor children. You should maybe engage outside help. If you are so ill you can't get your dc to school, maybe ask social services for help.

BobIsNotYourUncle · 21/03/2019 13:29

Have you not got another parent that can pick them up? Another family member? Friend? Have you tried anyone else? Your eldest should not be looking after the youngest. They shouldn’t be taking time off because you’re ill, it shouldn’t effect them.

thaegumathteth · 21/03/2019 13:33

I don’t really understand how this would work? If your kids are old enough to be left unsupervised for a whole day and watch tv quietly why aren’t they old enough to walk home from school / get bus or whatever,? How can a nursery age child be ok with this arrangement?

I don’t have any family nearby. Dh often works abroad and when kids were younger we knew nobody. Life goes on. I’ve honestly never been too ill to leave my bed unless I was in hospital when I had sepsis and even then that was once in my whole life.

thaegumathteth · 21/03/2019 13:35

Wait, your eldest is 8? This is neglect.

cheeseypizza · 21/03/2019 13:37

OP you also said that there were two days this happened LAST year. So the eldest was only 7?!

WeepingWillowWeepingWino · 21/03/2019 13:39

your desire to be private and independent doesn't trump your children being in school. Just ask another parent to drop them home.

And your DH should look into flexible working in such ad-hoc situations.

ghostyslovesheets · 21/03/2019 13:47

I'm sorry OP but 8 is way too young to have care responsibilities for younger children - you say you can't get downstairs etc etc then how will you respond to an emergency?

Send them to school - either pick them up via taxi or your DH will have to get them and then go back to work

BobIsNotYourUncle · 21/03/2019 13:51

I would say we are quite private people and independent so that is why I wouldn't like to ask for favours.

Forget your pride and prioritise getting your children to school.

Applesbananaspears · 21/03/2019 13:56

If you’re too ill to get out of bed you are too ill to be on charge of such young children.

I have never ever heard of anyone keeping their child off school because they are ill. You do need to swallow your pride, however private you are and ask for help. You don’t need to give details of your illness

TaxiGood · 21/03/2019 13:59

If you are that ill you are in no shape to look after children under the age of 10. What would you do if one of them took a nasty fall downstairs and was screaming and couldn’t get up? What about if there was a fire? An intruder? These things are unlikely but they are the reasons why we don’t leave kids home alone. If you are truly as ill as you describe, you are effectively leaving your children home alone.

motheroftinydragons · 21/03/2019 13:59

Right so if you're so ill you're worried that you could pass out and have mobility issues then you can't be in sole charge of your children. Just no. They should be in school!

I've just seen your eldest is only 8. It's so very unfair of you to put all that responsibility for themselves and a younger child on them not to mention bloody dangerous. You're so ill you can't move, what if one of them turns the oven on? Opens the front door and gets out? Falls and bangs their head? Runs a sink of water playing and falls in? A fire starts? Or even just something non life threatening but nasty like shuts fingers in a door? You can't care for them properly if you're bedbound however well behaved they are.

Please sort this out.

NWQM · 21/03/2019 14:04

This really isn't viable going forward and a very unfair pressure to put on the 8 year old.

If it is as infrequent as you say then I really think you should look at forming friendship groups and doing some mutual help.

Otherwise could somewhere like you local carers centre offer any suggestions - your daughter needs support for her caring role if nothing else.

Skincaresos · 21/03/2019 14:05

I wouldn't be bothered about DC missing pre school at all, but I would never keep older DC home from school just because I was ill. That's not okay at all. Especially the 8 year old. I've managed the school run with horrendous morning sickness, viruses and other illnesses from time to time. You just have to get on with it if you don't have family to help, and then straight back to bed until pick up. You can't just opt out of parenting because you are ill!!

Stompythedinosaur · 21/03/2019 14:05

I don't want to sound harsh. My dp has a chronic illness and there have been months where he could not be alone caring for the dc due to this, because he regularly fainted and couldn't have responded quickly in an emergency. It is tough, but what you can't do is place unfair pressure on your dc to be a carer at a young age.

In your case I really think your dp needs to take parental leave to care for the children.

Hugtheduggee · 21/03/2019 14:06

You may as well be leaving them home alone for those days, which isnt acceptable for an 7 year old, and especially if they are expected to care for a toddler by themselves.

If its a rare occurance then your husband simply needs to leave work early and collect the children. It might not be ideal, but the alternative of them being unsupervised for the day is not an option.

If you were able to lie on the sofa and put the tv on and supervise them, then it might just about be ok, but in that situation you'd be able to bundle you all in a taxi so they wouldnt need to stay at home.

Omzlas · 21/03/2019 14:13

I expected you to say your oldest was 13 ish, not 8. IMO That's still too young to be responsible for younger siblings, even with you in the house. If you aren't able to even get downstairs and make breakfast etc, how would you cope if there was an emergency? Even something as small as a poo accident?

You need an alternative, even if it is only a couple of days a year. Surely your DH's employer wouldn't object to 2 days a year used for dependant leave?

I have a chronic illness but wouldn't have my DC missing school for this and certainly wouldn't leave an 8 yr old responsible for their younger sibling(s), that's too young.

Stuckforthefourthtime · 21/03/2019 14:18

If you’re too ill to get out of bed you are too ill to be on charge of such young children.

^This. And you can't get out of bed a couple of times a year?
If you're this ill you'd be better off getting a friend to drop off your DC anyway, you can't care for them in that state anyway.

Blahdeblahbahhhhh · 21/03/2019 14:20

I don’t because I have someone I can ask, but if I didn’t I would.

Some illness you really can’t or shouldn’t (for your health and all those you’ll infect) pick your kids up.

I’m a teacher and despite what schools tell you the odd day off really isn’t going to harm them.

Nicknacky · 21/03/2019 14:24

Blah Have you actually read the thread? And if you have then as a teacher then surely you would be concerned for these children if they were in your school?

NoCauseRebel · 21/03/2019 14:28

Being so hard on the OP isn’t helpful.

The reality is that there are millions of children in the UK who have a hand in caring for their parents, and some of those are of primary age. This is why the likes of young carers exist.

The situation is absolutely not ideal, but to accuse the OP of neglect is a step too far. The children shouldn’t be in the house caring for other children and if the school got wind of this then it’s possible they would make referrals accordingly.

However, rather than accusing the OP of neglect, she needs to be looking for appropriate support to help her out at times when her illness is such that she is unable to care for her dc adequately.

OP can you speak to your GP to put you in touch with some support? As I said up-thread, you may be entitled to PIP if your disabilities/illnesses are such that they leave you incapacitated at times. At the very least you should think of claiming for the lifestyle component of pip (they used to call it the care component,)

If you have previously been very independent then it’s understandable that it’s very difficult to accept a reduction in those independence skills. Been there, done that. My illness is also such that sometimes I think I will pass out, in fact the other day I was cooking and ended up completely breathless and someone had to finish off cooking the dinner or it would have been late. It’s very difficult for me to accept this but I’ve had to. My situation is slightly different in that my DC is sixteen so is to all intents and purposes independent in their own right. But you have young, preschool aged children who are not yet of an age to be independent, and you also have older children who by your own admission have no friends so they have no let-up from your illness, especially when you expect them to compensate when you’re ill by not going to school and being with their peers but instead staying home to look after the younger children.

You need support here. It’s nothing to be ashamed of to admit that there are times you just cannot cope.

And for those suggesting that the husband needs to do more, it may not be possible. He may have to work if the OP’s illness is such that her working abilities are limited for instance, and we all have to live. If he’s supporting a household then it’s not a given that he can just take time off whenever he has to. Most employers simply aren’t that flexible, the fact that single parents and indeed women find it so difficult to work when they have small children is testament to that fact.

OP, please speak to your GP as a starting point. And look up support services with regard to your illness. There likely will be some. And engage with your DC and the school to establish what the issue is with regard to why they have no friends. Is it that they have no friends? Or could it be that they don’t want to bring people back if your illness means they are essentially carers? They need support as well, this isn’t just about you.

Etino · 21/03/2019 14:29

Being independent is one thing, if it’s limiting your life, or your children’s, it’s a problem. Strive for interdependence- get some friends.

happyhillock · 21/03/2019 14:33

Let's hope none of you find yourself in the same position, i wouldn't say the children were being neglected, there at home, there's food and water, there mother is ill and can hardly get out of bed, there is no one else to help what do you want her to do, i can think of a recent child case where the parent's should have been charged with neglect, everyone feels so sorry for them