Feeling guilty

[NillaWafers]

My eldest son (5) is sick for the 2nd time in 2 months with a stomach bug. Poor kid can't stop puking. Obviously I cancelled today, but I feel super guilty since I've taken Friday off so we can go to a wedding 6 hrs away.

How do you deal with your own children being sick?

[daycarediva]

My kids are older now (youngest is 7) so unless they are actively vomiting, I don't close. I do separate them and check in on them throughout the day.

If they are really ill and when they were younger, dh adjusts his schedule to stay home with them (much more flexibility than I have). My living room is on a different floor of our home from childcare, so it works out well.

I do give parents the heads up that we have the cooties. One religiously keeps her child home, she has good reliable back up and lots of PTO though. The rest will attend as usual.

[laundrymom]

Did you take off Thursday too? And get him sock on purpose to get a long weekend???
Of course not.
Stop feeling guilty ya goon!
This is our job. Not our life. You don't have to be perfect. You are allowed to be selfish and have a day you close because of illness. For crying out loud, give yourself a break. You deserve it! Now go Lysol everything g and eat something sinful for lunch. 😜😜

[laundrymom]

Oh. And I never close for their illness. Not even when they were small. My husband worked shift work back then. He was here for them.

[NillaWafers]

If my husband had vacation days he would so stay home and watch him while he was sick. But i'm 7mo pregnant and we are saving his days for when the baby is born.

I know feeling guilty is silly and useless but I feel like I'm letting my DCFs down a little. Fortunately, I don't have a large group and one didn't show up today anyways.

[mommyneedsadayoff]

I close if my kids are too sick, like vomiting. It happens. Parents know this home daycare and they need to have back up care. Stuff happens and sometimes it all happens in the same week If I was a kid, I wouldn't want to share my mom's attention and have a bunch of kids running around me when I feel like junk. And knowing some of my families, if I had them come with a sick kid here, they would be pissed if their kid started throwing up the next day. My kids come first, even if it costs me business. Don't be too hard on yourself!

[Ariana]

Definitely stop feeling guilty! As long as it is in your contract then you are ok to take time off for illness. My husband stays home when he can and I let the parents know if my child is super sick and I leave it up to them if they send their own kids. If my husband cannot stay home then I close the daycare if my child is vomiting or something like that. I give myself 5 sick days and 5 personal days and anything above and beyond that is free for parents.

Last year for me was the worst! It felt like I got sick every week. I think I took all 5 of my sick days in February alone. Fortunately (or unfortnately I guess) everyone was getting sick too so everyone was very understanding. Honestly what can you do!!