Returning to Work - Littleton,CO

It is really hard to manage work/home responsibilities but then again, no one ever said being a mom is easy! When I started a new job I had my husband take up the slack for a while (as much as possible) when/if my child was sick. That gave me a chance to get established in the new job and also let them see that I made other arrangments when possible so if I said I had to stay home w/ my daughter they knew I had to.

I work full time but want to cut back and be home so I started working from home too. The goal is for me to be at home in the next year. If you are interested in doing the same, let me know.

until I had sick/vacation time built up, my husband took the kid's sick days off. Now we alternate, depending on who's busier at work. (I work for a CPA, so during tax season he tries to do it, for example). My boss is pretty understanding, so if I have to take a day off once in a while unpaid, she doesnt get mad. We're a small (4 person), female only company, and only 2 of us have kids so it generally works out ok.

H., are you returning to a previous job? Or are you going to be looking for a new job? If a previous job that you have been working with for a while, is your job something you can be set up to do from home in the event of your child being sick? If you are going to be looking for a new job, have you considered doign something from home? Msg. me if you want some info on working from home! I have turned down 2 jobs in the past month from previous employer so that I can work from home and be with my two boys!

As an Operations Manager that did the hiring/firing/training set up, if I heard the words "How lenient are you when my child is sick?".......made us worry right off the bat. We heard "I don't really want to work and I will use any excuse to get out of it and call in sick"......a major red flag. There are ways to find out a company's stance on "family" by simply asking their policies regarding sick time. You are simply asking about their benefits and that's wow you come at it. You may be meaning well and an exemplary employee but if you don't word things right in an interview, it can quickly be mistaken. Don't make that mistake.
Some companies have a famiy friendly environment.....most don't.
They need to run a business so don't take advantage of them.
Use your time wisely, do a good job and they're shouldn't be any reason not to be able to have a family/work balance.
Simply ask what the benefits are when asked if you have any questions.
They should spell out their sick time at this point.

I would definitely NOT mention it during the hiring process. You don't want to make it out like you have a sickly child and won't be reliable. In fact, avoid saying you're a parent at all. They can't legally discriminate, but there is a lot of anti-parent feeling in many companies and you just don't want to risk it.

Since you'll be new, can't your DH/SO take time off instead? I would propose that at the beginning, so you're not the new employee always off work. Otherwise, you just have to take the time off and figure out how to make up the work time (to show you're a good employee). It can be tough. I work for myself and even then, it's still hard explaining to my work contacts that I'm going to be off that day, particularly when I have deadlines.

Also, find a backup childcare provider for those plentiful school holidays/days off. Many home-based providers and centers will accept drop-in care. Get an option lined up now. Before/after school on-site school childcare programs are often open on the school holidays, at least in our area, so that could be another route to go.

Hopefully it will prove to be a non-issue and you'll have a healthy child this fall/winter.

If you have family close by, ask ahead of time if they would be willing to take a sick child for the day. I call the grandparents and they take my boys on sick days or sometimes my brother if the grandparents are busy. If you don't have family, maybe a close friend. Also for before and after school care, there are many childcare facilities that offer this service, for only before and after school. Look around and check pricing, I know where I live it is $16/day for before and after school, until 6pm, and is run at my children's school.