What do you do when DC home poorly while WFH?

[AEP123]

I am so stressed. We’ve just managed to get over the stress of the 6 week holidays and get back into normal routine at work. I can’t afford childcare outside of term time, and have bloke to help me.

my productivity has dipped at work and my mental health also suffered.

so that brings us to today. DS had HFM, and nursery want him to stay home for the whole week. He’s happy and fine in himself, running riot as usual. But work wise I’m going to really really struggle and I can already feel myself on the edge of tears thinking about how my week is going to go.

how do people cope when you WFH. Do you still take the day off? It feel unnecessary since it’s not me that’s poorly. But I don’t know. I’m filled with dread.

Take a breath and look at the bigger picture.

1. why is nursery stopping your child from being in their setting with HFM? Is that their policy? NHS guidelines say they can be in nursery and school as long as they feel well. Your nursery can't dictate a time frame!! Challenge back. That's not good enough from them.

2. can you WFH? Yes, you can't do it all and productivity will dip, that's life. Can you be honest with your manager? Say you can catch up on work in the evening?

3. do you have a partner? Sorry can't remember if you said you did. If so, share the load.

4. Look at the bigger picture, sometimes things don't go to plan but being stressed isn't going to help. It's rubbish I agree - but find a way to breath and become calmer and then tackle how you'll manage the week. If your work kicks up a fuss then that's what happens. It's all ok.

You do the same as you'd do if you worked in an office.

Just because you WFH doesn't mean you can't take time off to care for a sick child. Check your works policy but we get paid special leave for this situation, I think it can be unpaid but not refused.

Also ensure your partner if you have one is doing his share, just because you WFH doesn't make you the default carer.

I personally would have a chat with my boss and ask whether he'd rather I took special leave or WFH as best I could, being very clear that expectations would need to be lowered.

Depends if your job is restricted to set hours?
Im self employed and shift my work schedule more to super early ( when Ds is asleep or with dh before he starts work. like 5-9am, or evenings or weekends when Ds is home from nursery.
and let Ds watch a film after lunch.

I only work about 15-25hrs a week though. So aim for 25hrs when Ds in nursery and more like 15hrs in holidays or ill weeks

Is the nursery policy up to date with NHS guidelines?

You have to take time off. You can't care for a child and work at the same time.

Depending on your employer and nature of work, they might prefer you to do flexi - my former employer was fine if I made deadlines, didn't care when I did it. So if child off ill, strip schedule back to bare bones and do work whenever so long as deadline met.

Our working hours are set so it’s just a 9-5 job. No rook for working outside of these hours.

I’ve had a lot of time off recently due to MH and I’m just feeling really conscious of how much time I’m taking. I used to have such a good track run 😞

If you can’t work whilst they are home, which is normal for young children, you need to take emergency leave for dependents. I’d be asking your nursery why he has to be off for a week though and direct them to the NHS website.