Last minute childcare arrangements

[Poopoo1]

OH has and appointment away. Childminder was ment to take care of LO on that day but has just told me that she can't do it due to a death in the family. I have called up LOs nursery to ask if they can take him in for that day they've said you have to call on the day and if there's any absences then we can. The other option is to use up my child sickness day from work or allow OH to take LO with him. In reluctant to take sickness day as LO is not sick and I don't want to jinx anything. Also for OH to take LO with him to is appointment seems too much stress on LO as appointment is in a another city and involve being on motorway for a good few hours. Plus OH is a man child and him doing this will make him realise how hard it get for me when he leaves me in the lurch sometimes. What shall I do?

If you can take time off work I would do that rather than send your child on a few hour round trip in the car in that circumstance. I'm assuming you have no AL left? I keep some of my AL back as far as possible for childcare emergencies, but I appreciate that's not an option for everyone. E.g. my DSis has to book all her holidays in like a year in advance so obviously would be similarly stuck in your situation. If holiday isn't an option and there is nobody else who can look after your child then I would take unpaid leave from work.

Can’t you take annual leave? I always keep a good 5/6 days of annual leave back for emergency illness days. I’m off today as my daughter came out in chicken pox last night! I just rang & spoke to my manager this morning and have taken annual leave.

I guess it may not be an option for everyone.. do you have any family support? Or friends that could have him for the day? Could you pull a sickie?! As a manager, I don’t advocate untruthful sick days buttt I know it happens and if the person isn’t often off sick, I turn a blind eye on the whole 😄 one day isn’t harmful on the whole!

You are allowed 2 sicknesses per quarter, doesn't matter about the number of days. 1 day off one week and 1 day off the next week is still classed as 2 absences this period. I have already taken time off due to illness with a sick note a few weeks ago, I can take one more sickness till December and I have 2 child sick days left till Aug. I don't really want to use the child sick day on the day as I have a fairly important meeting at work and if im going to get covered for the meeting then it will seem like im avoiding going. Also the company are looking to make cuts so they are looking to get rid of people, especially thoses who take time off.

I've asked close friends and family but it's too short notice for most as they have kids of their own.

Also the thought of OH taking LO is making me think of all sorts of scenarios, and is making me feel all anxious. Like what if he gets distracted and has an accident. I would hate myself forever.

do you have a local childminder Facebook page? mine is willing to take ad hoc children if it fits within ratio and usually settle with strangers.

Take parental leave - just means a day of no pay

What is the appointment for? Is it something he can take a child to? Like is it a work meeting or he needs to have a minor surgical procedure? Or does he just need to go sign some paperwork and it will take 5 minutes?

I can’t imagine dh or I taking a day off work because the other one had a minor appointment that our dc could be taken along to. Even if involved a couple hours travel (we’ve taken dc on motorways, trains, planes, etc alone, we’re both perfectly competent). But if you have a 13 month old and he’ll have to sit still through lengthy blood testing or some other thing where he won’t be supervised because your dh is horizontal, that’s different.

I took my then 6 month old with me for my smear though!