When childcare falls apart - how do you handle it with work?

[levantine]

Our nanny is ill. So, I have had to take all yesterday off, managed to get into work this morning, and have to take tomorrow off.

On top of that she had already booked next Tuesday off and can't work on Wednesday, so I will now not be back in the office until next Thursday (I work three days a week)

I worked in the evenings to finish a piece of work I needed to do and I have emailed my managers to explain the situation and to say that I am in the process of finding back up childcare, which is true.

What else could I have done? Am getting radio silence back now.

(for context, it's a job I've been in for about four years, returned after maternity leave about a month ago)

Ooops - so I don't drip feed, I found out that my job title has changed and queried it with my senior manager today. I'm quite happy with the new role but don't like the title, which sounds like a demotion.

I should have left it to query it shouldnt I

Do you have a partner?

I don't see how else you could have handled it tbh

Yes I do - he would normally have covered a day but his mum's just had her second op for cancer so he has gone to support his parents. Am stuck now with two children, rain and no plans for tomorrow. DH away all weekend

What's the child's father doing to help?

What else can you do? It's just the way it goes sometimes.

DS was ill and couldn't go to childcare last week - I took two days off and DP took two days off.

I see. That makes it trickier. You need to investigate temporary nannies and childcare agencies. You can see if your babysitter (should you have one) can do a few hours.

Other than that, calling in favours from friends, family and neighbours. Or take annual leave.

You have actually phoned your boss haven't you?

Oh dear

There's not much else you can do then

This has happened to me several times so I feel your pain

Yes, DH would normally have taken some time off too, but he couldn't.

What about the change of job title thing ?

the should have come before the question mark shouldn't it

op its just how it goes

my ds was off ill from school today and i had to phone in and say he was ill and i wouldnt be able to come in, was met with some "hmm" and silence but what can i do, have no nanny --hah!!-, no mum to ask and no family round here, dh at his work

itts just life with kids

oh and i wont be paid so down a days wages too

Yes I know

The nanny thing is new to us and takes pretty much all my take home pay - but we are only going to do it for a year -there are good nurseries here for 2+ and nothing for babies

I really envy people with family back up close by

thats exactly what I said to dh when he came home tonight!

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHEN YOU KNOW YOUR kids are ill and you will have to take time off work and piss off your boss, you just pick up the phone and your mum comes round and off you go to work!!!

this would be a dream to me and its normal life to so many

BTW op, you need to get your nanny's friends on speedial for emergencies like this

I have no back up childcare though my ds goes to a nursery so I only have to take annual leave when he is sick not when the nanny is. Have you considered a nursey as an option. My ds used to go to a childminder and I was off work an awful lot more than I am now.