Being unwell is easier for a sahp than a childless FT worker

[malterbitty]

I was just chatting to a friend on a group WhatsApp. We've both got the flu and we're having a good moan about how hard it is. She's basically said what a hero she is for going to work regardless and I have it easier because I only have to look after a 2 year old at home. Am I BU for being a bit annoyed?

I told her I don't get the luxury of sitting over a bowl of Vicks, and she's said of course I can, I can just leave my toddler to play on his own (he will not play on his own).

I would find it easier to go to work personally, but maybe I'm being unreasonable.

I am a SAHP... one of my worst experiences as a mother was having norovirus and having my head down the toilet vomiting whilst simultaneously feeding my 10 month old. After I had finished I had to call my mum and ask her to drive round and pick DS up because I couldn’t do anything but lay on the bathroom floor. I couldn’t have gone to work either. Both equally as hard - work and staying at home - if you have a really bad illness like actual flu or norovirus.
If you have a cold, like your friend sounds like she has, then it’s a minor inconvenience to be either working or looking after children.
Sounds like someone has a hero complex

It's harder being a working parent with flu 🤪

Being ill and needing to “carry on” with children is hard. Really, fucking hard.

I'll say it again, because it is crucial.
The issue is really whether or not you go IN TO work, or take a day off sick.

There are no days off sick if you are at home with kids. It is having to carry on while sick which is so hard.

There are very few jobs where you can't take a sick day if you need to.

As a now childfree person though not originally by choice It's one of the things I do appreciate that I have - the freedom to BE ill when I am feeling ill.

I was a SAHM and had a terrible sickness bug when ds was about 2. I was throwing up in the toilet with him beside me banging the toilet lid on my head shouting "shut lid mummy".

A definite low point of my SAHM career

No idea where the gin came from in my previous post btw

I’m not sure what we’re comparing here?

Being ill at home with small kids OR being ill at work?

...being ill at home with small kids OR having a day off sick on your own in bed?

Quite different!

I’d prefer to be at home than at work in all cases (work has always been much harder than being at home-even with 3 ill children of my own and being ill myself) but I think anyone would rather be at home ill in bed alone with no kids underfoot!