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Aarrgghh am I ever going to get back to work if dd keeps getting ill and sent home from school?

10 replies

foxinsocks · 05/07/2006 15:05

For the last year, I have been toying with the idea of returning to work. We need the money (although we could, at a push, just about manage without but it means not doing the work that needs to be done on the house - it's liveable in but only just !).

Dd has always had health trouble but the last 6 months have been really bad and in the last month, I have been called in one day a week, every week to pick her up early. It's got to the stage where I daren't go anywhere far away in case I have to come back.

She has glue ear so gets a lot of ear aches and she has a tendency to get spike temperatures (and she has mild asthma and hayfever) so the school tend to play it safe and call me straight away if there's a problem.

What worries me is that I did go back to work (when she was younger) but had to quit after 6 months because she only ever managed 2 days a week at nursery without being ill (and I was supposed to be working 4 days!). If I take a job and have to quit again because of her health, it will be a massive negative on my CV. Other than what I consider mild problems she has, she is in perfect health and the consultants and GPs she has seen have just said she will outgrow the worst of her problems.

Does anyone have this sort of problem?

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missseagull · 06/07/2006 11:18

My problems were nowhere near as bad as yours - ds was always being sent home when he 1st went to nursery, got every bug and temperature inducing whatever going and was sent home at least once a fortnight and had to stay out for at least a couple of days each time if not up to 10 days. I guess I was fortunate that my employers kitted me out with homeofice as I was working from home one day a week anyway and when I got the call I just got up and left, although it was always v stressful because you still felt guilty about it and when dh would get home I'd go in to the office and do a mini night shift sort of thing to be able to clear stuff I couldn't do at home. It is horrid but he did grow out of things in the end, no solution I'm afraid but lots of sympathy - hope things get better.

Bozza · 06/07/2006 11:36

How old is DD? Has she not been considered for grommets? DS has had glue ear and after adenoidectomy and 3 sets of grommets now has t-shaped grommets which have dealt with that issue. He also has hayfever and the school have to medicate him for it. I did get called when his eyes had swollen up like balloons but we seem to have it in control now.

sylvm · 06/07/2006 12:15

Sympathy coming your way - when I was working 2 to 3 mornings a week I could guarantee I'd either get a call from school re DD1 or she'd be poorly. If you don't have back up it's really hard. Like you I'd love to try again now but you get so stressed out when you have to make excuses. Also - same as you - we have just moved to a house that needs lots doing to it.

foxinsocks · 06/07/2006 16:23

she's coming up to 6

we are seeing a fab ENT but just as we were about to arrange the op, they did another hearing test and it turns out her hearing has suddenly dramatically improved (was moderate to severe and is now mild). They reckon that it is largely due to a big growth spurt she had and her ear/nasal passages have started to mature. They now think there is no point doing the op. She has definitely improved but still not to the point where she is 100%.

She also has a tendency to get a sore tummy when she is ill and the school are very quick to get rid of children with sore tummies! (she gets this when she gets swollen glands - apparently it is quite common so the doc says ggrrr).

you are right sylvm - it is the stress that worries me - I don't want to start something then have to stop.

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Godric · 06/07/2006 16:52

I'm currently working around my dd's 70% school attendance . Thankfully I only do 11 hours a week and I can work them whenever I like. She was the reason I had to give up my last job - it was just too stressful trying to find people to look after her, work and work around dh's shifts too.

Hope you can find something flexible foxinsocks, but TBH they are few and far between.

Wilfred · 06/07/2006 21:03

foxinsocks - do you think that if you see her through another winter then her health might have improved and you could maybe look for a job next spring? Sounds positive on the ear front I think. And also she will have been at the school longer to build up her immunity to that particular community of germs.

foxinsocks · 06/07/2006 21:48

thanks for all your comments - yes, maybe you are right wilbur and one more winter will do it.

it does make me feel better to hear that other people have this problem (godric!). I was beginning to think dd was a bit of a freak! I gave her a special treat today as she managed to spend a whole day at school (yay!). I know tiredness is playing a part in this but I really need her to have a good run of attendance before I can start looking at anything.

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foxinsocks · 06/07/2006 21:48

sorry, wilfred, not wilber!

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saggarmakersbottomknocker · 07/07/2006 14:09

Hey foxinsocks - (it's me Godric!?!) - guess what? dd came home again today [roll eyes emoticon]

foxinsocks · 07/07/2006 14:13

oh no!

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