Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that you shouldn't be working if it means you can't do your job when you child is sick?

96 replies

childcareneeded · 17/09/2008 08:10

I had an appointment this week, but the person I was meant to see couldn't come because her DS "had a cold". There was no one to replace her. I feel let down.

I think if you can't do your job because your child is sick, and thus letting other people down, you shouldn't be doing particular jobs.

OP posts:
compo · 17/09/2008 08:11

yabu

janinlondon · 17/09/2008 08:11

Interesting. Does this apply to men too?

compo · 17/09/2008 08:11

1st post or a cowardly name changer?

jimjamshaslefttheyurt · 17/09/2008 08:13

Erm, newslflash: the world doesn't revolve around you.

People having to cancel because life gets in the way is one of those things. Perhaps the child's father stayed home last time? Would you feel the same if your appointment had been cancelled because a childless male's car had broken down.

Totally and utterly unreasonable.

jimjamshaslefttheyurt · 17/09/2008 08:13

I think this is genuine as there was another thread mentioning this earlier in the week. So might be a namechanger.

Bluebutterfly · 17/09/2008 08:13

Oh please, give me a break. Is her child chronically ill? Do you think people who get colds shouldn't be doing their jobs at all? Is this a total wind-up?

Indith · 17/09/2008 08:16

So in families with no parents around to help out only one person per couple can work since there are always certain bugs and infections that mean that nurseries, childminders etc won't take your children. God the number of times I've had to take days off uni because ds has bloody conjunctivitis or had to go pick him up early because he'd thrown up everywhere.

pooka · 17/09/2008 08:17

YABU. Get over yourself.

SmugColditz · 17/09/2008 08:18

yanbu

i think it's damn cheeky to expect the same rights as a man

it's not like we have a penis, for fuck's sake!

compo · 17/09/2008 08:20

me and dh thought we were being so clever splitting all the sick days btw us with who takes off work.... until he got hauled into his boss' office and told he was causing problems taking so much unplanned time off
At my work they just have to lump it, it doesn't make you popular though and I'm sure if I went for promtion someone who didn't have a young family would get it over me

MrsJamin · 17/09/2008 08:20

YABU. Childcare don't like accepting children who are not well so what should the lady have done? Ceased to be in that line of work once having children?

fruitstick · 17/09/2008 08:21

chilcare, I don't think you're going to find many friends here.

Did you stumble onto the wrong website? I presume you are on here because you are also a mother. What do you do when your child is sick, tether to cbeebies and hope for the best.

Or are you so busy and important that the nanny takes care of that for you.

Miaou · 17/09/2008 08:22

lets all go back to the dark ages and not bother going to work then shall we. YABU.

amethyst86 · 17/09/2008 08:23

Oh, go away.

mm22bys · 17/09/2008 08:24

This did happen to me! Are you me?

I worked after having DS1, but haven't gone back to work since having DS2. DS1 did get sick when I was working, and I was earning less than DH I got to take the time off.

I was "just" doing office work though so if I was off sick it didn't really matter. If work was urgent, I could be covered, or I could make it up.

I think it's up to the employer to have arrangements in place to cover any absences.

Were you offered an alternative time?

YABU.

TheInvisibleManDidIt · 17/09/2008 08:32

How dare their child be ill and interupt your oh so important schedule!!!

Do you have children?? Would you honestly put your job before your ill child?

yabTotallyu

TrinityRhino · 17/09/2008 08:34

colditz

ROFFLE

WouldYouCouldYouWithAGoat · 17/09/2008 08:34

i had an appointment canceled by a physio who doesn't have children - bet she had pmt or some such, fecking women!

FioFio · 17/09/2008 08:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ClareVoiant · 17/09/2008 08:41

Trip trap, trip trip trap.

Gateau · 17/09/2008 08:43

Are you sure it was just a cold her DS had, OP?
I don't think I would keep DS off nursery if he just had a common cold and his nursery would still take him. Kids get colds all the time.I myself wouldn't take time off myself with just a cold. Sounds like more of a 'man flu' thing.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 17/09/2008 08:45

meh...

(and I'm not working today because DS 'has a cold'... haven't cancelled any important meetings tho )

mamadiva · 17/09/2008 08:47

Oh god yes you are being perfectly reasonable!

My DS had chicken pox and I took 2 days off work because nursery wouldn't take him even though they gave him it in the first place.

I felt such a bitch I mean caring for my sick child what a cow I must be.

Spent the whole day worrying about how the old folks were in the care home I work in and how much I let down the able bodied staff!

So again yes you are being reasonable... for a simple minded twat

Gateau · 17/09/2008 08:47

Meant to add, if DS felt particularly groggy with his cold, I wouldn't send him to nursery. I'm lukcy in that my MIL can look after him when he isn't too well so I can still work, but not all Mums have that luxury.
If he was really ill, I wouldn't want to leave him and would stay off work.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 17/09/2008 08:50

Gateau - DS went to his childminder yesterday but was pretty miserable and cling apparently. This morning he woke up and screamed all through breakfast before demanding to go back to bed (he's 2). I made a judgement call not to send him today, work can wait.