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Original poster

"it is unacceptable for men or women to call in because a child is sick in my view."

567 replies

hunkermunker · 15/01/2007 00:29

Xenia says "it is unacceptable for men or women to call in because a child is sick in my view."

I am interested to know what other people do in this situation.

OP posts:
Cappuccino · 15/01/2007 10:52

MrsJC that was exactly my reaction

and my husband can administer his own Calpol, thanks very much. I married a real man.

FioFio · 15/01/2007 10:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Cloudhopper · 15/01/2007 10:53

Dogs and other pets come into our flexible working policy too. Who's to judge if one person's dog on death's door is less of a priority than someone else's child's conjunctivitis?

Cappuccino · 15/01/2007 10:53

I'm sorry but I can't stop laughing at the dogs bit

is this how you see our children?

Freckle · 15/01/2007 10:53

DH has often (relatively speaking) taken time off to help with childcare when I've been ill. He's done the school run and pick up, plus ferried to after school activities, etc.

He doesn't earn £1-2M. He has been head-hunted several times by firms wanting to pay him silly money, but we have decided that, much as I would love to spend that money for him (he would be working so many hours, he just wouldn't have the time to spend it himself), our quality of life as a family would be compromised. So he's stayed where he is.

uwila · 15/01/2007 10:54

I've said it before and I'll say it again:

The reason Xenia's posts on mumsnet attract such attention is because they are so radically different from the norm on mumsnet. She says what she thinks. But, she is not hostile in her delivery. So, I'd say she is very welcome here. And I think it's not very nice to tell her to go find another site to post on.

I agree with much (but certainly not all) of what Xenia says. So do other mumsnetters. She is not alone, as much as many of you would like to think she is.

BigBellyCornflakeKid · 15/01/2007 10:55

Blimey - my dh needs a payrise...or not as I would rather have hom home every night with me and my children and earn a bit less tbh - I'm sure most people feel that way. I don't want my children to have a nanny, I want them to have me.

I took a day off work before christmas because ds2 had dodgy tummy - I ended up taking it off as paid leave because I had it by the end of the day too...but not at the start of the working day - so what would you have done?

All the grandparents live 2 hours away so we are completely stuffed when children are sick - dh could not take a day off really - it would be down to me and I am completely happy to - don't think it undermines me at all - if work thinks they are more important than my family they are very mistaken - which they don't by the way - they have values.

CheesyFeet · 15/01/2007 10:55

I'd be hard pressed to find a day nanny in my area. All grandparents work themselves and live 100+ miles away anyway.

Long and short is, I have no emergency cover. I am it.

Fortunately I have an understanding employer.

Now must get off mn and get on with my quite special but not particularly well paid job.

Am enjoying this thread immenseley

expatinscotland · 15/01/2007 10:56

Yes, Fio, we are just as lucky as you in that respect!

We also alternate.

Droile .

MrsJohnCusack · 15/01/2007 10:57

I don't even know why I'm on this thread, seeing as neither of us even has a job at the moment, 'special' or otherwise. making us part of the great unwashed I imagine.

but am still laughing about the dogs. What about dogs, eh? Brilliant in't they (a la FAst Show)

Caligula · 15/01/2007 10:57

I don't understand why I should be outraged if a colleague took time off work to look after a dog, a husband or a child.

Shouldn't we look after each other when we're sick?

Freckle · 15/01/2007 10:58

Nobody told her to find another site. It was a suggestion if she wants to convert others to her ethos. Most of the women here just aren't in a position to live as she feels they should.

iota · 15/01/2007 10:58

well I never have to worry about taking time off when the kids are ill because I am a fat, lazy-arsed, dull-witted SAHM

CheesyFeet · 15/01/2007 10:59

I once worked with someone who took time off when her dog was put down. She was devastated and clearly not in a fit state to work. She took it as holiday. No-one minded.

BigBellyCornflakeKid · 15/01/2007 10:59

I too think xenia has every right to say what she thinks - don't be mean to her

Cappuccino · 15/01/2007 11:00

I do sometimes find too that Xenia sometimes has some good points and it is nice to have different opinions

sometimes I find myself nodding

but then she goes and ruins it all by saying 'SAHMs are boring shrewish drudges who wipe bottoms all day' or 'teenagers in rural areas take drugs in bus stops so you are better off staying in London' or 'it's better to send your child to private schools because wearing shorts is character forming' and 'I'm so glad I could outsource singing The Wheels on the Bus'

all of these are maybe paraphrases but are certainly real examples of her opinionated mayhem

expatinscotland · 15/01/2007 11:00

I'm training both my daughters to marry brickies by the time they are 18, have children young and qualify as hairdressers.

BigBellyCornflakeKid · 15/01/2007 11:00

and I agree with Freckle too!

CheesyFeet · 15/01/2007 11:00

at all the layabout non-workers.

Envious even though you just aren't as special as me

Twiglett · 15/01/2007 11:00

iota ... take care ... some people don't get online sarcasm

MrsJohnCusack · 15/01/2007 11:00

oh and I do agree with uwila, Xenia is very good natured about it all and it is good to have her viewpoints on here.

iota · 15/01/2007 11:00

CheesyFeet - I had to have the day off when my cat was poisoned and the vet couldn't save him.

Caligula · 15/01/2007 11:00

I never have to worry either because I work from home.

My employer has no idea whether I'm working or farting around on Mumsnet, but will know if I'm overall not working because of my results.

BigBellyCornflakeKid · 15/01/2007 11:01

Cappucino - thats exaclty what the teenagers to in my village!

uwila · 15/01/2007 11:01

I don't think this thread is about whether or not a parent can stay home with a sick child -- of course they can. This thread is (or was) about whether you lie and call in saying you are sick yourself so that your company pays you for the time off. Everyone with young children has a right to time off to care for the children.

Also, why is everyone talking about nannies like they save sick time. You know, nannies get sick too. Mine had strepp throat last month, resulting in one day off for me and one for DH.