How do you cope in a senior role with constant toddler illness?!

[Speedmacarons]

My small DC are constantly ill. They have a pretty good diet, lots of time outdoors, been at nursery a good while, wash their hands etc. No help.

Me and DH have jobs you can’t easily take time off from. We have a nanny too and mix nursery and nanny, problem is the nanny gets the bugs and is then off too! So we pay through the nose, sometimes twice, for a very bad job between me and DH whilst trying to do some half attempt at the urgent work. Then we have to work at night. Then knackered, and probably have the bug ourselves too!! Not much family help unfortunately.

None of my colleagues seem to have these problems to the same extent. I feel like I’m coming across as being disorganised and flaky as it’s affecting my work.

How do people in the same position cope?!

I’m a bit surprised that nobody covers you - where I am the employees without kids cover the parents, even where the parents are more senior. I can’t really see any other way it can work as the work just doesn’t get done unless the people that can do it reliably are doing more to pick uk the slack.

But yeah agree with others - sounds like a nanny problem.

I am self employed and am very fortunate in that where I live there is a big shortage of people who can do my job. I had a horrendous year last year where my daughter was constantly ill with medical emergencies related to allergies and temperatures. It’s so stressful constantly having to cancel and rearrange. Thankfully the temp thing had been sorted now as a consultant worked out what was wrong, but I have lost a lot of money and a couple of clients due to having to take the time off last minute all the time. Thankfully most are understanding and to be honest they don’t have any other option! One of the settings I work in is a hospital and I’m not allowed in with any cold symptoms at all, which means I’m very often not in and then losing a whole day’s pay, as I have to be well, and also my kids have to not be off too. I’m currently developing some coding skills on the side as that’s something I could do freelance around the kids for a bit of extra money.

I think you have a nanny problem tbh. We've worked with our nanny for five years now, w/ our three kids. She has had one absence during that time, when her own child was ill and off school.