Working Moms! NEED ADVICE!

A., I can totally relate to being overwhelmed. Especially the guilt about calling in. My kids are alittle bit older now and I have to call in less frequently, but when I do I still feel alittle bit guilty. However my childrens health is way more important than a job. Luckily I have tended to gravitate towards jobs that have been flexible and family friendly. But even then I hate piling my work on other people. I have found that finding someone at work who is in somewhat a similar situation with taking days off for personal business, and making arrangements with that person to handle things for them in emergencies, and they can reciprocate for you when you have emergencies Also keep the line of communication open with your supervisor, like just briefly stepping into their office and saying "just want to warn you, the baby was very fussy when I dropped her off at day care, so I am preparing myself for a phone call." Then before they can say anything, let them know your "just in case plan" That way your boss knows that your work is still a priority. It helps when people are not surprised when you are rushing off to pick up your child.

Don't isolate yourself right now. Thats the worse thing you can do. Make the time to dial up family or friends and get how you are feeling off your chest. It really helps. My freinds and family are a huge support system for me. Sometimes just knowing that they understand what I am going through is helpful enough to get me through a bad day. And shamelessly solicit their help from time to time. You are not wonderwoman after all. I wish you the best of luck.

Good morning, A.! I was just reading your post, and I was wondering about something. Have you ever considered working from home so you can be home more to take care of your daughter when she's sick? I work from home, with a heathcare company, and I absolutely LOVE IT!!

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Hi A.,

I completely understand. Working with children is very difficult and all of the things that are associated. I wanted to offer you an opportunity to work from home and earn extra income.

I completely understand. I have worked at home for 12 years and absolutely love it!

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I am a businesswoman in the Phoenix area for over 12 years.

Its is crazy and I am there everyday. I own a buisiness with my husband and another by myself. my son goes to a school 5 days a week and is 22 months and has been sick every 2 weeks it seems. I have appointments, paperwork, luncheons, charity events, a million tasks and a few days sick at home puts me behind. I have been looking at nannys or aupares to maybe do in home care so when they are sick they are taken care of and I get to work. For what I pay in daycare some services are affordable maybe even more than daycare. if i find one I will let you know.........

Your plate is really full. PLEASE find some time alone where you can do something you like, even if it is sitting at Starbucks, drinking coffee and reading a trashy magazine. I have found that spending as much time as I can alone, playing my guitar, etc. is super important. You're no good to anyone if you're constantly overwhelmed...and the kids think that life is not light and fun, but heavy, if they see you that way. It also sends a message that they are a burden and we don't ever want that.

I was coming apart like you are, and I, at first, had to force myself to get a life. Now I love my time to myself. Don't delay. Do something right away and make it a regular thing! I hope that helps. I am in Santa Fe, New Mexico. If you are here, contact me.

My advice may seem horrible, but here it goes...Keep a refillable prescription of amoxicillin on hand if your MD will do that for you. Also, give antibiotics 14 - 21 days rather than 7-10, as that will help eliminate the bacteria causing the infections. If your child does not have tubes in her/his ears...think about having a consultation with an ENT doc for that...it can be done in the office if you can bear to leave the room and plug your ears for a few minutes (I did this for my daughter's 1st set of tubes when she was 2 or 3, it hurts you more than it hurts them, but doesn't last long). Also, if your daughter has fever the night before you go to work, give motrin and tylenol alternating every 4 hours until the fever breaks, maybe a small dose of benadryl before bed and when she gets up. That will buy you some time to at least get a half day in before (if) the fever comes back. A fever is the body's way of fighting infection and is really not a bad thing...too bad everyone did not share that philosophy. A cough/sneezing is worse in children than a fever, and most kids spreading germs are the ones coughing and sneezing, not the ones with fever.

Hello A.,
I work full time too and have two littles just as you do. I went throught the same thing as you are going through now. Both of my kids, age 7 and 5 now, go to a daycare and are always sick or have runny noses or something. I have found that keeping them on a healthy diet helps keep their immune system stronger. There is not much else to do. Being in a daycare will help them later on once their bodies adjust to and are able to fight off most of the colds and germs, until then, I'm sorry to say there is not much to do. I do give my little ones vitamins daily to help as well. Just a question have you tried to find a private sitter and not a daycare. I went through child care resource and referral and found a great lady that took wonderful care of my littles and they were hardly ever sick then. hope this helps some.

D. - i know how you feel!