Friday, January 8, 2010

My Absence, Charlie's Sick, I think.

Sorry for my slight absence. I've been trying to get annual inspections for work done, end of the month billing done, along with finding childcare for a sick Charlie and rushing home early everyday to care for her.

Actually, she has a fever, but no real other symptoms so I'm not sure this isn't a teething fever (although why that would happen I'm not sure...) but it was quite high for a teething fever (103). Thanks to Motrin, it was controllable for the most part.

I truly know the work/childcare dilemma so many parents lament about. I know it first hand. I was completely torn in two: this is the one day a year I NEED to be at work (people traveled from out of state to be there for the inspections) VS. my sick child. Of course, Charlie won out but it was soooo hard for me to look at my colleagues and tell them I would have to leave int he middle of these annual inspections. They were all gracious (which somehow makes it even worse!) and said we could continue the next day. Which delays everything for them by a day. Because of my sick child. But thank goodness they were as understanding.


I'll be back with some new posts this weekend.

Have you ever had super important work days be preempted by childcare issues? What did you do?

5 comments:

Sarah said...

The first week I temped here at the University, Celeste had Hand Foot and Mouth and I had to take three days off. I was terrified I would have just made a terrible first impression and I'd never get the full time job, but they didn't mind at all and I ended up getting the job any way.

Its scary though having to try and balance being a mom and a career woman... Celeste is 9 months old this month, I've been back to work for half of that time and I still cry some nights for having to leave her all day or miss her bedtime... don't you wish we could all be independently wealthy and only leave the little ones with care givers when we wanted to?

Jodi Queenan Artist copyright 2011 said...

I've thought about this over and over..... it is hard.... I'm already saving sick leave.... But. I work with women, as a teacher, who have been there. I know that your co-workers supported you..... Take care... and I follow your blog often....

Nobody said...

we've had a fever-thing going around the house too... both kids have gotten it and since gotten better. hopefully it stays that way. :) one of the reasons i consider myself very, very lucky is that i don't have to worry about the childcare/work thing because taking care of my children IS my work. :) the only downside is i have't actually had a moment away from them since my daughter was born. total baby burn out.

Cathy said...

It is acutally happening to me next week. My boss called a spur of the moment manager's meeting and I don't have childcare. So I told her I am not going.

Anonymous said...

I bring them to work. Which used to work because I'm a teacher and my kids thought it was cute and could even babysit if they had free blocks, which My kids loved. BUT, with H1N1, a potentially sick toddler was no longer cute. I don't know if they have services down there like up here, but there are emergency babysitters for just this purpose--adults/screened/for just a day or two. The prices are high, but they would be great in a pinch like your review day. I haven't tried them yet, but others have and have been satisfied. dcuz