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Working moms and sick kids..a rock and a hard place

I just posted this thought on my blog too but really, how does a f/t working mom make the decision to stay home that one extra day to let her child really heal from being sick?

So many of us are forced to be a bad parent and actully send our child to school when they really need one more day just because they will get in trouble at work. That happened to me today...again. My son has been out of school this week because of an infection in his chest. I figured I was pushing the envelope a little but thought he should be well enough to go back today as long as he takes it easy. Well we got to the parking lot and sure enough he threw-up. So I called into work knowing I should have kept him home to begin with.

Nine A.M., my cell rings and it's my boss telling me that I should not be taking so much time off of work and I need to find someone to watch my son. YEAH RIGHT! How am I going to find someone to watch my sick child? I don't have that luxury.

OK, I vented....again.

Do any of you working moms have a similar problem?

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Permalink Reply by Christina on August 21, 2008 at 9:24pm

I'm lucky that my boss is very understanding about me taking time off if I need to b/c my son is sick but I just found out I was passed over for a promotion b/c I had used too much of my sick/vacation time. People were concerned I wasn't dedicated enough. So even though my boss is "understanding" there's a price to pay. Do what is right for you and your son. You are the ones who matter.

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Permalink Reply by Sharon Spray on August 22, 2008 at 11:03pm

Well I'm glad I'm not alone. :D I've been with this company for over 5 years. This has never changed and until my son is actually old enough to be home alone when he's sick, like at 16, it never will. Time for a talk with the big cheeses I suppose.

So sorry about you getting passed up for a promotion. I have paid a price as well. I have also been passed on a promotion last year. Yet, the office seems to fall apart when I'm not there. Oh well.

We are moms, then employees. My son will always come first. (but I still get my work done, even from home)

Christina said:

I'm lucky that my boss is very understanding about me taking time off if I need to b/c my son is sick but I just found out I was passed over for a promotion b/c I had used too much of my sick/vacation time. People were concerned I wasn't dedicated enough. So even though my boss is "understanding" there's a price to pay. Do what is right for you and your son. You are the ones who matter.

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Permalink Reply by Janine on August 24, 2008 at 6:48am

This is probably the main reason I can't stand working full time. I'd give anything to be able to work from home/ have a boss who let me do the flexi-time thing. I HATE feeling guilty for looking after a sick child. I HATE feeling guilty that I'm not looking after a sick child. Catch-22.