Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 9/27/83; site hplabsb.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!cmcl2!seismo!hao!hplabs!hplabsb!pc From: pc@hplabsb.UUCP (Patricia Collins) Newsgroups: net.kids,ho.childcare Subject: Re: Working parents and sick kids Message-ID: <2334@hplabsb.UUCP> Date: Mon, 18-Jun-84 11:57:00 EDT Article-I.D.: hplabsb.2334 Posted: Mon Jun 18 11:57:00 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 21-Jun-84 00:33:58 EDT References: <243@iwu1c.UUCP>, <665@ariel.UUCP> Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA Lines: 41 I have been struggling with the sick child and career responsibility problem for a year. My husband and I have worked out a solution that neither of us finds "perfect" but both of us finds acceptable. It is based on a few premises: 1. A young child who is ill might be traumatized if left with strangers. 2. It is neither "fair" to the sick child nor the daycare center children to have a sick child among healthy children. (And at our daycare center, there is a policy that clearly spells out that sick children may not return until they've been well for 24 hrs.) 3. Our jobs often entail meetings or other activities where other people depend on our participation. 4. Our working hours are more flexible than, for example, a school teacher's or secretary's. SO: When we wake up in the morning and find Adam has a 102o fever, we know someone will be home AT LEAST that day and the next; probably 3 days. We figure out who can stay home when and make whatever phone calls are necessary to rearrange commitments at work, then hope Adam will sleep a lot so we can get some work done at home. I have found it impossible to make up all of the hours I miss by working at night and on weekends, although my husband manages to do that. I have already used 5 flexible-time-off days out of my 15 for the year, just taking care of our little boy. When children are kept in isolation, they aren't exposed to as many diseases, viruses, etc. So, parents can make the decision to isolate their young child and just go through the ~18 months of illnesses when the child begins school. Patricia Collins BTW: I *would* like to request that those who have decided they must share their moralistic diatribes kindly post them to net.holier-than-thou. IF you have children and IF you have given up a career to stay home with them full time, then please feel free to share your experiences as something which works for you. But please don't preach; and PLEASE don't tell those who are different from you that they are immoral/unethical/damned/inferior. -- Patricia {ucbvax|duke|hao|allegra}!hplabs!pc