What do you do if your DC are ill and you work?

[Skintorama]

Straw poll. Child normally goes to nursery then childminder.

Do you a) take the day off work

b) your DH takes the day off work

or c) shriek at your Childminder that she has to have your ill child because you or DH can't possibly take time off?

?

We used to take turns on the rare occasions that our DC were ill. They were at nursery, so no childminder to shriek at!

What's up with your DC?

A or B, we take it in turns. We don't have a childminder.

Alternate a and b.

Doing c would be very twatish.

Are you the childminder, OP?

Well, mum usually has them.

But if she can't then I take the day unpaid. I've since learnt that you can use compassionate leave to cover odd sick days without being penalised by your employer (learnt this from my OU module).

Has someone done 'c' to you?

I assume you're the childminder?

My parents alternated taking days off.

When I worked (sah now) we would take it in turns.

I would never expect a childminder or nursery to look after an ill child.

Are you the childminder who has been shrieked at?

Take it in turns

A or B.
It was awful when DC were little.
Days off = stress.

You're the childminder, aren't you?

In my case, because I work nights, I would go without sleep! When I leave to go to uni, DP will take time off. No one will be yelled at!

meglet I've not heard of using compassionate leave for days off with sick DC. How does that work? If I am off with DC, we don't get paid.

But if she can't then I take the day unpaid. I've since learnt that you can use compassionate leave to cover odd sick days without being penalised by your employer (learnt this from my OU module).

I certainly wouldn't let a member of staff have compassionate leave to cover odd sick days for their kids. It might be appropriate if a child was seriously ill, but not for ordinary childhood illnesses. I would expect staff to take unpaid leave to cover this sort of situation, or to use their annual leave entitlement. Compassionate leave is for exceptional circumstances only in my view.

A) My parents have them. Or if they are not around then b) husband takes day off. I have only taken one day off for sick child in 8.5 years because I am a teacher it's a lot easier for husband to do it.

Yes, I'm the CM.

I'm feeling awful and teary because I woudln't normally put my foot down, but I have an important interview this morning and I've arranged cover for the mindees I have, I don't normally have this child as she'd be at nursery, and apart from anything else I shouldn't have to have a sick child, she has a high temp and sore throat.

If I get ill and can't work, I don't get paid and I have to let down four separate families. We are going on holiday in just over a week and I dont' want a house full of illness. So I said no, for all those reasons.

And got shrieked at.

When we both worked full time we do a mix of A and B. never C

Yanbu apart from anything else if I was one of the other parents I'd be annoyed that my child had spent the day with a sick one needlessly. It's the parents problem not yours.

We had this a lot as dd has a chronic joint condition and used to catch every bug going. Constant juggling. I would take the day off, or dh would take the day off, dh would take unpaid leave or I would take dd into work with me. It was a nightmare until dd got old enough to be alone at home.

They are being utterly unreasonable, OP. You are quite right to say no. I'm sorry you're upset.

She was horribly ill last week (don't know if this is a continuation of that) and she went to Grandparents on the first day and me on the next two.

So I think I have done my fair share of having her when she's ill, and they've managed to dodge three day's worth of time off.

I just hate confrontation.

I only have one more week of this though....

Perhaps you should gently suggest that they find a different childminder after the holiday, OP? This family sounds like too much aggro!

She behaved very badly.

You need to forget it (cup of tea? hug with a small child?) and concentrate on being superb at your interview. And your upcoming holiday (I hope it's great).

Have a lovely, successful day.

All the best.

... and what Jinsei just said.

You don't have to have these shouty meanies in your life. You can find other parents/child quite easily, I should imagine.

a or b. I am currently at home, taking holiday, as DD is ill. Obviously c is completely unreasonable, for all the reasons you stated. Are they normally a difficult family? You were right to say no and shouldn't feel bad about it. Our CM has a sickness policy that was recently circulated to remind parents not to send their kids in if they are sick. No different from nursery.

Thank you. I have given them notice, and next week is my last week.

And if I get this job then I can stop CMIng altogether.

I really did not need this today, but I will dust myself down and be fabulous.