Juggling work and a sick child can be incredibly difficult, especially if you don’t have a plan ready. Sick children need a parent to watch them, but you also need to go to work. While it can be stressful and very difficult, there are a few tips to manage the two so everyone is happy. Try these tips next time your child is sick.
Make a Plan
Make a plan right now. Waiting until your child is sick can lead to awkward and stressful situations. It is normally best to make several plans, just in case one of them does not work. For example, you could plan to alternate who watches the sick child so both of you can get some work in.
Whatever you do, make sure you plan for it right now. That is the best way to avoid any problems.
Talk with Supervisor
Businesses have different policies when it comes to sick children and working. Some businesses will allow you to come in later, so you can wait for the other parent to get home from his or her job before going to work. Others will allow you to telecommute so you can work from home, and watch your child at the same time.
Speaking with a supervisor now, much like making a plan now, is much better for the company. You will know all your options, and the company will be a little more prepared for your child getting sick.
Talk with Parents
Do your own parents live nearby? If so, you may be able to drop your kids off if both you and the other parent cannot possibly stay home and watch your sick children. This is a common way to juggle both work and sick kids, and it is usually one of the most effective methods.
Never Ignore Symptoms
Many parents ignore cold symptoms like a runny nose or some slight coughing. These are early warning signs and you need to get on them immediately. Use some cold medicine and make sure your child gets plenty of liquids and sleep. Speaking of sleep, make sure your children sleep enough everyday. Lack of sleep causes the immunity system to slow down, which can let a virus into the body.
Don’t ignore any symptoms. While you may not be able to completely get rid of the upcoming cold, you may be able to slow it down or reduce its effect.
Backup Care
This is not a preferable way of dealing with a sick child, but it can be useful. Backup care is when someone comes to your house and watches your sick child. Due to the obvious threats of safety to your house and child, all companies offering backup care only use caregivers who have gone through a long and rigid screening.
Your child may be scared of the caregiver, and they tend to charge a lot. However, if there is nothing else available, this will ensure that your child is looked after while you go to work.
Shift Work Habits
It’s ideal when your child is sick in the morning. You can call your place of work and the business can typically arrange to have someone cover your shift. But that’s not always the way it goes. Sometimes children get sick during the day, and you have to leave work to care for them.
The best way to deal with this is to change your working habit. Instead of leaving big tasks for the end of the day, do them immediately. If the school calls in the middle of the day, then you should already have most of the hard work done. Businesses will also appreciate this, as leaving smaller projects is preferable to intensive or time-sensitive ones.
Conclusion
Watching a sick child and managing work can be hard. You can’t always do it yourself, and you sometimes need the help of the other parent of a caregiver. The good news is that there are many tips you can use to manage the two and still get through the day.
Try one of the above methods and see how its works out for you. This should make it a lot easier to watch your child and get some work done.
Author bio:
Tom Demers writes for Del-Immune V®, unique probiotic supplements made from the lactobacillus rhamnosus which helps build up immune system support.
Earnest Parenting: tips on managing with sick children.
Image courtesy of Andres Rueda via Creative Commons license, some rights reserved.