When my mom got an upper respiratory something, she would literally be horizontal for at least three days. In Russian language we have a term “nasmork” meaning congestion, and that takes about three days to get better. Now, my mom didn’t work outside of the house, so she could lie down for three days with congestion.
My situation is different. I admit that I go to work sick. I sometimes teach with sniffles and a soar throat. I only take a day off when I have a fever or feel so sick that I must lie down.
So, for the past two days I’ve had a soar throat, sinus pain, and congestion. And I went to work. This morning, however, I felt completely out of commission. I did not sleep well, upon waking I felt bone-crushing fatigue. The congestion and sinus pain were still there 😑 I was silently thankful for the fact that it’s Saturday and I have this weekend to recoup.
I took the morning off, T went to gymnastics with the kids, and I lied down. I then took L to her piano lesson, and just sat there in a haze.
I will probably get back lash with this post: “stay home if you are sick!”
If only it were this simple.
As a state employee, I get a generous package of time off, in addition to all federal holidays.
There is no telecommute/remote work, you have to show up in person- the students are waiting for you.
And I sometimes I feel like I am pushing it with taking days off. If I took off for every case of congestion, soar throat, and head ache, for me and the kids, I would run out of sick days by November.
Right now we are in April, and I have 8 days off left for the year but I am now using them very mindfully, only when is absolutely needed, i.e. T is traveling and I have to get my sick kids early from school because there is really no one – NO ONE – who can get them.
I don’t even know where I am going with this… At the beginning of the year, I usually take off for first day of school for my kids, then their winter concerts, and their graduation/moving up ceremonies. L has her spring concert on May 1st, at 10 am, I guess that’s another 1/2 a day there.
T works from home most of the time, so when that message comes “schools are closing immediately, pick up your kids. NOW.” He can get them. Sometimes that message comes when he is away. That is when I fly out of the building in the middle of a lesson (but it’s rare).
Also, I have heard comments from folks along the lines of: “you get two months off, why are you whining?” Fair enough, I AM off for two full months, sometimes longer. However, I still struggle with deciding when to stay home and when to report to work. It’s a delicate balancing act. You want to take care of yourself, at the same time you have a duty to your school and students, and you have parenting responsibilities of a solo parent when your partner is traveling.
I’ll leave it here. Being sick today, on a Saturday, prompted this post. If you have any thoughts on sick days and child care- I’d love to read them.
Oh and we went to the library – turns out it is open till 7pm Monday through Thursday.
Mom of Children 