What do you do about work when DCs off school ill?

[clam]

Are employers sympathetic or irritated? Do you have to take unpaid leave? Or have you got a good backup system? My kids are usually pretty healthy, so Calpol does enough to get them through a school day, and DH and I split anything more serious between us. But DH away at the mo, DD has flu, and it's down to me. Work been lovely so far, but am worrying how much longer. MIL no longer with us, and she was brilliant, my parents are on holiday, and all my local friends work.

Its such a tough one this. My DD is at nursery and DH and I have had countless days off to look after her when she's been ill. The thing is that if you don't have family nearby or someone else who can take care of them you just have no choice. Luckily I have a very sympathetic employer. I think all you can do is accept that this is what it means to work and have children and try not to let the guilt get to you too much. I always catch up on work missed in my own time and my employers know this and appreciate that 'face time' in the office is not the only thing that counts. But as I said I am lucky. DH and I have a strict day on day off policy so we really do share the days off which means I'm rarely out two days in a row which does help. But at the end of the day, what you going to do?

It gets worse..... DS looks like he's sickening for the same thing!! GAH!
Fortunately, I'm only part-time, so after tomorrow, I'm off anyway. Knowing my luck, I'll then get it in time for next week.

My worst nightmare (for any number of reasons, but including work) would be one of the DC being off for more than a few days.

Fortunately both DH and I can work from home quite a lot of the time, so if it is DS(5) who is ill, then unless we both have meetings (in which case we play 'my meeting is more important than yours' Top Trumps ) we can get a reasonable day's work done. If it is DD (18mths) who is off then work is a write-off except for a couple of hours when she is asleep. At best DH and I work hour on/hour off shifts. I have been known to call in my DM as well.

I have a very understanding manager. He always knows the truth, but some less sympathetic colleagues might get told that it is me that is ill as they find that easier to accept - , but the reality of working in a male-dominated environment

this is a really hard one

I posted the same thing a few months ago. I have absolutely no help and dh is away a lot so if the kids are sick I have to take time off, unpaid. I was advised to try to find a childminder/nanny who would have my sick kid for the day, but was amazed at this, no one around here would entertain taking sick kids at a days notice, maybe ? in London, but certainly not in my neck of the woods!

I mean I was amazed at the suggestion, not at the fact no one would do it!!

Mine are sympathetic and I can work from home if need be. It's not ideal as there are times when I have to be there but it makes life easier. I try not to take the p* though by asking all the time. I see if DH can get home (not at the moment as he's working about 100 miles away), then call my parents, then see if a neighbour can come in...then speak to work. There was one time a few months ago when all of those option failed and I had to be there for a meeting! In the end my lovely mum cancelled her painting class and came over just for an hour or so.

typical!

ds was sent home from school sick today, who collected him? who else - me!!

boss p**d off, but I have no choice

Well DD is off school today with horrid fluey bug. Au pair looked very grumpy and pouty and pointedly didn't offer to look after her. We are both at work and horrifically busy. Thank goodness for grandparents ...

We have no family near us and to be honest, I wouldn't ask any of my non-working friends to take care of an ill dc...As a result, between myself and DH, we share the load. I get a few days carer's leave a year and so can use those. After that, I use up 'time owing' that I've accrued. DH always keeps some annual leave days aside every year in the event that either I or the kids are unwell..

Yeah, but I'm a teacher, so our holidays (lovely and long though they are) are fixed, so I can't use them in lieu. I've got by on good will so far, because I've always given many more extra days than I've taken, so it's mutual back-scratching really, but 3 days is going a bit far, I think - especially with a new Head, who doesn't know of my track record. Was hoping that my Calpol trick might work for tomorrow, but have just discovered DD flaked out, fast asleep, boiling hot and puce in the face, so it's not looking good....

grandparents are what I need

Clam - my DM was a teacher at the same primary school we went to - her 'car' was a camper van, and if we were ill we used to get taken to school and left outside (in a secure private drive, I should probably add)in the camper van to sleep, and she would check on us between lessons - if we were not that ill we would generally get bored and get up and go into school!

Not very practical for tomorrow, though...Good Luck with that one.

Those were the days. Probably get done for child neglect nowadays. .As you can tell, the fact that I'm posting on here means that I'm at home - again. Work have been very accommodating about it but, fortunately, the pressure is off from tomorrow because my job-share takes over anyway. HOwever, as DD is entering the grumpy, whingy, on-the-mend-but-going-to-make-everyone-suffer-a-bit-more phase, I think she'll be going back tomorrow, strike or no strike.

Big problem for me as dd has a connective tissue disorder which leads to a very high absence rate. Fortunately I work part-time, but when I am at work I can't take time off as there is noone who can cover for me (uni teacher, only specialist in my subject). Sometimes dh can get time off- his boss is absolutely lovely, but if dh is out of town it may not be practical.
Sometimes we leave her for a short space (she is 11).
I have been known to take her up in a taxi and leave her stretched out on the floor of the lecture hall (bad back). It's a constant ad-hoc juggle.