What If Your Child Was In The Hospital?

[originalkat]

I think it depends on the situation. If it was a short stay then I would close. If it were for an extended time I don't know. I think it would depend on what it was for. I know that where we are right now my family would not survive without my income. If I were to close for an extended period of time, we would need to find another place to live and sell most of our possessions to get by. I hate that we are in this situation financially, but we are working on digging out and it takes time. My family comes first...period. But part of that includes providing a home and food on the table for them. But in reality I think that unless it is something you actually face it is easier to say what you would do until you are faced with the reality.

This is me as well. My daycare income is our ONLY income so me closing for an extended period would not be possible. If it was a week or so I would close. Other than that I would have to depend on extended family to sub and/or be in the hospital. It would also depend on how life threatening it was. If it was life or death than I would say screw the house and business. Hard situation that I would not want to have to face.

[littlemissmuffet]

In Chatterbox's thread alot of providers were shocked the mom was at work while her child was in the hospital.

We as providers have very little time off, never call in for sickness, etc. So what happens if this were our own child. What would you do if your own child was in the hospital? Would you close or try and find a sub? Would you close for the entire time if your child had to be in for longer then a couple days?

I guess for myself I would close, explain to my families what was going on and pray for the best. I would possible also try and close for a few days upon coming home because that is sometimes the hardest-having a child home sick and trying to take care of children.

My child's been in the hospital for the last 3 months, since she was born. She was born Christmas day, so I was already off that week with pay. I had one kid scheduled to come for the following Monday (New Years Eve) but opted out of coming so I could be with my daughter. I was closed New Years Day with pay and then started working again full-time the day after New Years.
We obviously didn't plan to have our baby 3 months early, so it wasn't an option to take any additional time off. If I did, we'd have no income, lose our home, etc... which isn't an option. We need a stable home for our daughter to come home to. So, I spend 10 hours a day working and 5 hours a day/night with my daughter in the hopsital (plus 2 hours of commute time) - I have spent the last 90 days doing this. Her daddy is now on parental leave as of last week, so he's spending the days with her while I continue to run the daycare and we spend the evenings with her together.
You do what you have to do.

[hope]

How is your DH doing now?

I had a friend from college who's DD was diagnosed with leukemia at 3 yrs old. It was hard to watch her go through what she did. Later in her teens she was diagnosed with some sort of liver disease.

She is now 24 yrs old and has been cancer free for 11 yrs now and doing really well.

Sometimes it takes something like that to happen to make you realize it isn't about the money.

Hope your family is coping well.

He is doing good, thank you. It is something that he will have to deal with everyday for the rest of his life. My children are blessed to have such a strong role model for a father. And in terms of daycare....it takes a real life threatening disaster to frazzle me now. Lol! I will always remember how kind those families were for me bc I know they depended on me and I left them in a bind with no notice. We struggled for a while financially, sold off most of our luxury possessions and now we are both back to work and appreciate family time over material things. I work my butt off so he can relax more and am just grateful that I am able to work while spending time with my own children. When a loved one needs you you will be surprised at how little you care about your fancy car, jewlery n toys. No amount of money is worth time spent caring for someone who needs you.

[momofsix]

In Chatterbox's thread alot of providers were shocked the mom was at work while her child was in the hospital.

We as providers have very little time off, never call in for sickness, etc. So what happens if this were our own child. What would you do if your own child was in the hospital? Would you close or try and find a sub? Would you close for the entire time if your child had to be in for longer then a couple days?

I guess for myself I would close, explain to my families what was going on and pray for the best. I would possible also try and close for a few days upon coming home because that is sometimes the hardest-having a child home sick and trying to take care of children.

If it was a short term hospital stay-no doubt I would either close or find a sub and be at the hospital after the whole time.
If it were long term-there's no way I would be able to. That doesn't mean that money or material things are more important than my family. It would just not be possible without losing our home and going into bankruptcy.
The day after Christmas my dh had what was supposed to be a simple surgery, with only a one night stay. He ended up staying for 21/2 weeks. I had already taken the week of Christmas off-so I was able to be with him that whole week. The rest of the time I was able to have my dd's sub for me. They were home from college for an extended Christmas break and my oldest got a bit added to her leave to also stay and help. It was not an ideal care situation but my parents were all awesome. There were 3 days that I had to work while he was still in the hospital. I didn't want to, but I had no choice. The only day I closed was the day he came home.
I don't think it was fair to judge the mother in the other thread without knowing her circumstances. Maybe I missed reading about it, but I don't know why she was at work while her child was in the hospital or know any of the circumstances surrounding her and her child.

[hope]

My child's been in the hospital for the last 3 months, since she was born. She was born Christmas day, so I was already off that week with pay. I had one kid scheduled to come for the following Monday (New Years Eve) but opted out of coming so I could be with my daughter. I was closed New Years Day with pay and then started working again full-time the day after New Years.
We obviously didn't plan to have our baby 3 months early, so it wasn't an option to take any additional time off. If I did, we'd have no income, lose our home, etc... which isn't an option. We need a stable home for our daughter to come home to. So, I spend 10 hours a day working and 5 hours a day/night with my daughter in the hopsital (plus 2 hours of commute time) - I have spent the last 90 days doing this. Her daddy is now on parental leave as of last week, so he's spending the days with her while I continue to run the daycare and we spend the evenings with her together.
You do what you have to do.

Wow, I commend you for your strength and stamina. That is a rough situation. You child is very lucky to have you!

[littlemissmuffet]

Wow, I commend you for your strength and stamina. That is a rough situation. You child is very lucky to have you!

Thanks, Hope. It's tough, but we do what we have to do for our children. She's the reason we work so hard lovethis

[Holiday Park]

I have had two of y kids in the hospital over the last 2 yrs . My youngest was in the hospiyal for 2 weeks being monitored when he was 6-8 weeks old. I had 2 other kids to care for that were too young to get off th school bus by themselves. My oldest was not here (visiting with my mom). Anthoer time my youngest was there 1night for rsv for monitoring.
He was in icu for monitoring his first week of life after I was discharged, and what ruined my marriage (on top of a number of other things that happened prior) , was my husband did not take off work to help out. He always works , even when he is too sick to work and about to pass out because he can't say no to his boss.
I had to go home and stay with my kids and leave my 6-8week old ny himself with the nurses because I had to no choice and no one to help. My husband says if he takes off work during times like that we wouldnt be anle to make the bills&rent. But really what the problem is he spends $ every say on crap and eating out and I have told him over&over how important it is to SAvE for emergencys / times like that when some one is sick etc...
So to those who have a husband who takes off work OR makes time every day or nifht to spend with tour child in the hospital, i hope you know how good you have it. The biggest reason I have been doing child care since my youngest was born was to pay down on my debts so I ca hopefully be all paid off on dent ad can start saving to be anle to get on my own two feet so I can leave him and still be able to afford to support my kids by myself. He works TOO much and wen we are gone I hope he realizes the big mistake he made by not willing to compramise with me and make time to be there for us/me. When I had my c-sections all three times he worked ad wasnt thete for me either except to drop in and visit.

[CedarCreek]

Well, it depended on certain factors in my life at certain times.

Now, close no doubt about it for shorter visits. Longer and dh and I would switch off.

When my oldest was born he spent 5 months straight in the hospital. He cane home for about a week and was re admitted basically until his first birthday with surgeries upon surgeries and illnesses galore. At that time I was 17. I turned 18 a couple of months before he turned one. I knew I had to finish high school if I wanted a better life for him. So there were times when I had to go to school and leave him. I would take my homework and go after school and sit with him until they kicked me out. When I graduated, I stayed with him as much as possible. I would go to college courses and then to right back to him.

Most of the time, if I couldn't be there one of my parents could. It was a tough situation but I had to better myself for him.

Now if something like that happened, I have the luxury of DH and a savings account to ensure that neither of my children goes without a parent.

[littlemissmuffet]

I have had two of y kids in the hospital over the last 2 yrs . My youngest was in the hospiyal for 2 weeks being monitored when he was 6-8 weeks old. I had 2 other kids to care for that were too young to get off th school bus by themselves. My oldest was not here (visiting with my mom). Anthoer time my youngest was there 1night for rsv for monitoring.
He was in icu for monitoring his first week of life after I was discharged, and what ruined my marriage (on top of a number of other things that happened prior) , was my husband did not take off work to help out. He always works , even when he is too sick to work and about to pass out because he can't say no to his boss.
I had to go home and stay with my kids and leave my 6-8week old ny himself with the nurses because I had to no choice and no one to help. My husband says if he takes off work during times like that we wouldnt be anle to make the bills&rent. But really what the problem is he spends $ every say on crap and eating out and I have told him over&over how important it is to SAvE for emergencys / times like that when some one is sick etc...
So to those who have a husband who takes off work OR makes time every day or nifht to spend with tour child in the hospital, i hope you know how good you have it. The biggest reason I have been doing child care since my youngest was born was to pay down on my debts so I ca hopefully be all paid off on dent ad can start saving to be anle to get on my own two feet so I can leave him and still be able to afford to support my kids by myself. He works TOO much and wen we are gone I hope he realizes the big mistake he made by not willing to compramise with me and make time to be there for us/me. When I had my c-sections all three times he worked ad wasnt thete for me either except to drop in and visit.

Sorry you are in such a tough situation right now. I commend you for recognizing you need to get out of this situation and go be on your own. It's tough, but you're doing the best thing for you and your kiddos in the long run - don't give up. Best of luck!! lovethis

[Play Care]

I guess it would really depend. A short trip? I wouldn't leave their side. Something that is recurring or would mean longer stays? I would have to have my sub come in sometimes, but would still need to work. I work to put food on the table and keep the roof over our heads, not to have the bigger SUV and surround sound entertainment system.
My husband is a teacher and has much more PTO so I imagine if it were a more serious/lenghty illness, he would have to take the time off.

[CedarCreek]

I guess it would really depend. A short trip? I wouldn't leave their side. Something that is recurring or would mean longer stays? I would have to have my sub come in sometimes, but would still need to work. I work to put food on the table and keep the roof over our heads, not to have the bigger SUV and surround sound entertainment system.
My husband is a teacher and has much more PTO so I imagine if it were a more serious/lenghty illness, he would have to take the time off.

My Mom is a teacher too and any time one of us would get sick she would say, "You couldn't wait until summer?!" ::

[Play Care]

My Mom is a teacher too and any time one of us would get sick she would say, "You couldn't wait until summer?!" ::

Ha! When our kids were little it seemed like every school vacation they would come down with something. My poor husband would be looking forward to spending time having fun with them and wind up playing nurse. ::

[Rachel]

My son was in the hospital for almost 3 weeks after he was born (congenital heart defect). Thankfully, I was on paid maternity leave and even got extra leave for the time, but if G/d forbid he will need another surgery, yes, I will be closed. I was with him almost the whole time except for the 3 days right after surgery (when dh and I switched off and he was alone sometimes during the changeover in PICU where it was allowed) because I have 4 other kids who also needed their mother.

[cheerfuldom]

I have closed the daycare before while my child was in the hospital. There is no way that I would leave my kids or my husband in there all alone. I dont care what was going on with the daycare or who left, my family comes first, all the time, every time.

[LittleD]

My son was hospitalized this January for a week. I took the first day off (went to emerg on Sunday spent most of the day there) because I knew we were going to be there a long time. Thought he had meningitis. Emerg said it was but he just needed bed rest.
Monday morning he started creaming of chest pains, got him in to family doctor who said he should be hospitalized because of the meningitis.
I called my parents said I will be off Tuesday until we know more. When he was still in Tuesday I booked the rest of the week. He didn't get out until Thursday afternoon.
I don't regret it and would do it again!!