If another member of staff was excused from playtime duty, would you resent it?

[2kidsintow]

In our school all staff have 2 playtime duties as well as a before school/after school turn at seeing the children safely in/out of the grounds.

I have a medical condition that is reasonably well controlled by medication, but that flares to become more painful when I'm subject to being out in cold weather/cool breezes etc. My head has told me that when I go back to work (after being off sick since Feb) that my duties will be covered for me.

I look and sound in every other respect to be completely well, but will be in discomfort straight away if stuck outside in the lightest breeze and in pain when stuck outside in the cold. (I have a fetching range of scarves to help but they don't solve the problem).

I wonder whether it will be resented that others have 'duties' to do and I am excused, when noone looking at me could tell why.

Not at all. My mum has Cold Urticaria, basically she is allergic to cold, it is very painful for her and means she is pretty much housebound in the winter, she has a disabled badge for it. She looks perfectly mobile and normal so feels guilty using it but she has to get close to a building so she can run in. I'd be angry if someone judged her on something they know nothing about.

My youngest had cold urticaria as a child. Nasty. I was forever being tutted at because she looked cold even when she was happily splashing arojnd in a warm swimming pool.

It wouldn't bother me. In fact, I would prefer that you were not on playground duty because if I was out with you, I wouldn't wont to have to look after you as well if you became unwell IYSWIM.

That's a good point, actually.

It's back to business for me tomorrow and we have a training day, so I'm sure things like duties will be covered then.