Does anyone esle feel incredibly guilty about taking time off when their kids are sick?

[paolosgirl]

DS1 is upstairs ill - has been for the last 3 days and showing no signs of recovering in time for Monday. DD's school phoned last week to say that she was ill, so had to leave and was at home with her. Although DH and I try and share the sick cover as much as possible I work for the NHS and get far more in the way of holidays, carers leave, parental leave etc - but I still feel incredibly guitly, and am dreading phoning in AGAIN on Monday.

Doesn't help that the others in my team either don't have kids, have family who live locally who can pitch in and babysit, or have grown up kids. We've got 3 kids, so I end up taking far more in the way of leave - and I only work p/t. Sometimes I feel I'm hardly there.

How do you deal with the guilt???

Agree that you should not feel guilt but OTOH I always do! I think you cannot avoid the guilt but as 100years says you are doing absolutely your best so try not to worry.

I know I shouldn't - I always try and psych myself up for the phone call into work, and tell myself that I've got no reason to feel guilty, but end up apologising profusely and wittering on about how bad I feel.

I've got a presentation to give on Monday morning and have to chair a meeting in the afternoon - both of which will have to be done by someone else now. Someone who doesn't have kids probably, or who has a relative who can step in at the last minute for their children, and who can shake their head, roll their eyes and groan at me.

I have come to the conclusion that mothers will find something to feel guilty about, no matter what. I went out last night with a mum of two small boys who is absolutely devoted to them. She does a few hours freelance work from home in the evenings and feels guilty that she is not resting in order to be fresh and mumsy in the morning!!

I think it should be looked on as an investment. The british population is ageing, this is a fact and as our kids grow up with the strong work ethic we obviously impart on them, they will take over our responsibilites and guilt.

As a result, the time we are grudgingly forced to take off due to their ill health will undoubtable be paid back once they start work and start contributing to the GDP.

Stop the guilt as you are clearly contributing to the futures' dwindling workforce.

Oh damn! Namechanger forgot she changed!

Well, double guilt now. I've picked up whatever DD and DS had, so am now feeling completely lousy, but know that I should probably go in as DS feels "a bit better".

You're absolutely right, SYDK. My children are the doctors, engineers, road builders etc of the future. Still doesn't assuage the guilt though!

I work, DP stays at home. It's unreasonable for me to stay at home for them when he's there, so I don't.

But it's me they want, so I feel guilty about going, and they don't get my best work either.