To request parental leave?

[ThesecondLEM]

My Dd is 16 and is really unwell. Has had negative PCR but I'm not convinced. Although she had covid at the beginning of the year, this is worse.

Normally if she is unwell she shakes it off but she really isn't. She is sleeping loads and really distressed when she wakes up. I would usually just leave her home if unwell but she's rarely sick and one of those kids who push through and go to school.

I gave work a heads up that I may need parental leave tomorrow and I have got a message asking me to go in for two hours first thing.

It will probably be OK but if she is as unwell as she has been today I really don't want to leave her at all.

Hope she feels better soon. I would be tempted to bypass 111 and go up a and e

Hope she’s okay OP

She is able to lay down now the paracetamol has kicked in, she has blocked sinuses so I think it's that but obv not taking any chances

I was once severely ill with pneumonia and similar to your DD was sleeping a lot and waking quite distressed - I was 30 years old and fucking terrified so no way would I leave my 16 year old feeling like that !

You did the right thing OP, she may be 17 but needs her mum.

@FellInLoveWithABanana

She’s 16, not 6!

And?

Would you leave your 36 year old spouse at home if extremely unwell and needed caring for?

Or your 86 year old mum?

I don't believe anyone would tell someone really unwell who needed care at that time - regardless of age - that sorry you're not 6 anymore so I'm leaving you.

This isn't a cold. This is something unknown that could turn at anytime.

My friend left her DD with severe stomach pains at home alone because she was 15. Her appendix burst and she got home to an almost unconscious DD who was blue lighted to hospital and remained there for 2 weeks.

Can someone else sit with her for two hours? Then you can work and go home. If not, tell them you are now feeling unwell too, and can't come in. You are clearly very worried about her, and just because she is sixteen it doesn't make it any less important, you are still her mother and she needs you. Do what you need to do to take care of her.

You need unpaid leave for that. Parental leave needs to be booked in advance . (Daft, but that's the rules).

I have just read your post about severe headache. Take her to A&E op. It might not be anything to worry about, but I would be worried about Meningitis, she needs to be checked. I had viral Meningitis that sounded just as you describe. I don't want to worry you, but please take her.

Hope she is okay

Covid can cause the most agonising sinus pain but yes I'd have sought medical advice RLI just in case of meningitis.

I'm assuming you can't work from home?

Mine are 15 and I would not leave them like that, so yes, ask for leave.

Yes it’s unpaid dependent leave you want rather than parental leave

No, can't work from home unfortunately.