Working When Your Child Is Sick

As if your day couldn't get less productive, your little one now is running a fever, has a cough that never ceases and you can't keep up with the tissue. Sooner or later you'll have to take care of your child and juggle your work at home especially during the winter months. What are you to do when your little one is extra needy and work is also needing your attention?

 

There is no sugar coating the situation. Your day and or the next few days may end up being a complete failure as far as your work is concerned. Like normal work days, set yourself up with some goals that you know you will be able to meet. Trying to obtain your daily work load may be setting the bar a bit too high right now and that's okay. It happens and it's part of being a parent even if you worked outside of the home. You may have to cut down your hours or even throw the towel in for the day depending on how sick your little one is.

 

If you have a laptop, this is a great opportunity to use it to your advantage; even more so if you are supporting a wireless signal in your house. Make you and your child comfy out in the living room, put on their favorite movie and comfort foods if they have an appetite and try to get some work accomplished while you can. Most kids, like mine, insist on mommy being near by no matter what. Be prepared for putting your work down frequently even if it's just for some cuddle time until they fall asleep.

 

Another way you can get some work hours in is to change them. Depending on how often your little one is keeping you up at night, you can always try to wake up earlier or stay up later. It's very common for the cold and flu symptoms to be worse at night so since you know that you are going to be getting up anyway, you may as well change you schedule and get some hours in. You can make up for your sleep during the day which is what you'll be wanting to do instead of work during the daytime hours. Graveyard hours are never desirable but when you are already limited on time being a stay at home parent, you'll find time even more restricted when the kids are sick.

 

Keep in mind that they won't be sick forever so if you do chose to change your work hours it won't be forever. You'll get back into the swing of your normal schedule before you know it. Plus, who wants to pass up the extra cuddle time? The older they get, the less that will be welcome. It's never a good thing when they don't feel good but it's great to be wanted close to them like that again. So go ahead and take advantage of it while you can and if you can afford it, take the day or next couple days off and help your little one get better.