What do you do for Back-up Childcare?

[DawnMarch]

I have been working from home for the last 10 years so when my kids stay home sick from school, I can stay with them.

But, I'm going to be starting to work in an office soon, though, and not sure what in the world we are supposed to do when one of the kids is sick? We have NO family here or within 1000 miles of here. We have no friends who do not work during the day or who I could impose upon to take sick kids (they all have kids themselves).

What in the world do people DO?????

[SeattleSheri]

My husband and I alternate who stays at home with them. It's not always convenient, but we make it work. I can't remember if it's a company policy or a state law (here in WA), but my employer cannot count care for a dependents as an unscheduled absenses. I think it falls under FMLA (not 100% sure, I used to know, but that tidbit of knowledge has slipped my mind). Luckily, I have the flexibility to work from home when needed, but I don't get much done when the kiddos are around.

[rochelle789]

Well, this is one of my stressors as a working mom! My girls go to a center and they have strict policies about fevers, etc..., so when one of them is sick I have to stay home. And that's not an easy thing for me to do either because I teach college-level courses and it's not always easy to just cancel them whenever. We also don't have family nearby or friends who are in a position to help, so this really is the only option. :thumbdown:

[Yvette]

I am also the one who stays home when ds gets sick, thankfully my employer is really good about things like that!

[HeatherKS]

I'm lucky in the respect that I only work part-time for a VERY flexible employer so I just take the day off and stay home with them. Dh has stayed home with them on occasion when I just could not take the day off but his job doesn't have the flexibility for that to happen very often.

I agree, this is one of the biggest struggles for working parents. :(

[kscwgirl]

Either I take off work or my mom does. I have a week of sick time and a week of vacation and usually that's what it is used for.

[DawnMarch]

LOL. I was afraid you guys were going to say that! You just make it work, I guess.

[Jennifer]

That's one of the main reasons I left teaching last spring. With 2 kids in DC at the time, someone was always sick. DH travels some and has a "more important" job, so it was always me leaving early or calling in. Then I had to do sub plans, find a sub, answer to my not-so-understanding principal, etc. Most people I know are able to take turns with their DHs.

[tuneskids]

I'm lucky in the respect that I only work part-time for a VERY flexible employer so I just take the day off and stay home with them. Dh has stayed home with them on occasion when I just could not take the day off but his job doesn't have the flexibility for that to happen very often.

Same. My boss is very easy, family always comes first. Although I do luck out a little more, since DH is home when I am normally at work, and I am home when he is at work (I work 9am til noon, Mon-Fri and he works 2:30pm til 11pm, Mon-Sat - although he occasionally takes a Saturday off).

[iJenny]

Have you ever looked around for a drop-in daycare center? We just had one open in our area and, while its expensive, its perfect for the situation you're talking about.

Also, you could check craigslist for a babysitter/daycare provider who does drop-in care. I have a friend who does that kind of childcare and she's in pretty high demand.

[pbumbaca]

I have always tried to work out with my job that I could work from home if the weather was really bad or one of my kids were sick. With this new job I can't do that so DH, my mom or I alternate in taking days off. It stinks but not much else you can do.

As for the drop off daycare thing Jenny mentioned, I'm not sure they would let you drop off a sick kid, most daycare's as well as schools have a law that kids have to go home if they have a fever of 99 or higher, or any of those usual sick signs.

[SamaraGugler]

Unfortunately, I stay home with them. DH leaves for work at 2 am and unless I have something really big going on at school, it makes more sense for me to stay with the kids. Hubby gets written up if he takes a day off without a doctors note. Yep, even one day.

[DawnMarch]

I suppose we will end up cobbling something together, like you guys do. My DH is a professor, so he does have some flexibility in his schedule except for when he has to teach. We do have an afternoon babysitter, but she takes classes most mornings. I would be working in a job that would have some flexibility again except for certain meetings I'd have to attend and legal hearings. I still worry about those "perfect storm" times when all three of us would be unavailable.

Thank you very much for your thoughts on this, girls.

[lovely1m]

I fear this, too. Luckily, I use an at home day care and they don't seem to mind the minor sniffles stuff. Which is good cause my dh works on the road and I am in the military and not in an office military job, I can't just take off, we have to have the mininum manning working. Its hard.

[Sue Setiadji]

We have family leave here or carers leave for parents who need to look after a dependant - its only a few days a year but Im certain its a great help to working parents. Your kiddos will appreciate having you with them when they are sick - its often when they need you the most so I guess its in there interest if you can find an understanding employer!

[melmos75]

As with everyone else, my DH or I stay home with them. Usually me though. When it comes to sick kids, mosts daycare, whether in-home or center will not take them.

[jocelinsmommy]

Quick suggestions for people who live in big cities like i do..we have several nanny agencies..and they have people who don't mind doing it (i used to work as a nanny a loonnng time ago...i was one of those people.) anyways for those who don't have the money i know that's an issue sometimes with people too some agencies have several people who are willing to take less than what the company policy "says". I used to understand peoples situaitons and take ALOT less than other clients would pay. I had a client who could only afford like 6 an hour and others who paid me 22 an hour. Alot of agencies value you as a customer so they're willing to find people who will help. Around here and even down in the litlte places on the coast where I used to live had child-care that even have a place for children who are under the weather. They used to put it in the yellow pages. Just my 3 cents :)

[d2vasquez]

I am really lucky to have an employer or maybe it's just my boss cuz I know it's not that way throughout my work - that stresses family first. So I generally will use all my vacation and sick time to take care of the girls since my dh does not get paid if he stays home. In EXTREME cases we will leave them with my MIL but wow I have to be really desperate to do that. :blink: