How Sick do YOU Have to Be & How Much Info do You Disclose to Parents?

[Danielle]

Unless you missed what I had written I did not provide care for the kids. . . my husband did. I cared for them for maybe 1/2 - 1 hr before they were picked up & at that time I hadn't had a fever for 24 hrs.

Guess I should have made myself more clear. I was referring to the others that said that they do care for the kids and don't tell the parents they they themselves or their kids are sick.

[boysx5]

I never close when I"m sick I manage to get by. The only time I closed was last year when I had a sinus infection so bad I was dizzy and couldn't stand up without the room spinning.

[DCMomOf3]

i've closed three times. Once for vomiting and sweats, one for fever/flu, and then for about 6 weeks due to my stroke. I tell my parents when I fit my sickness policy, or my kids do and let them decide otherwise. If my Dh were listed as my backup provider I would probably say I was feeling under the weather so dh was going to help care for the kids.

[Missani]

I haven't been doing this very long (almost 6 months) so I haven't ever closed. I never used to stay home from work either, though, so I always just manage to get by. I don't think you did anything wrong, though. I would have done the same thing.

In fact, I kind of wish I could right now. I just took my own temp (which I never do) and ironically it was 100.3. I am afraid I might have strep and have worked with it most of the week. Oops! I've been a bit stressed this week and, not smart of me, but just realized that I've had a headache, nauseousness, and a really sore throat most of the week. My hubby couldn't sub for me this week, though, because he just had surgery on Monday and spent the first half of the week in the hospital. Not like it really matters, I would have given the parents the option to come or not, and I'm sure they would have all come. I have one family that mom is out of town and dad is an attorney currently in a trial, another that mom is 35 weeks pregnant in preterm labor and mom and dad are both sick with nasty colds, and the last that dad is JUST starting a new job and mom has been in mandatory meetings. I also was closed on Monday for my husband's surgery, so I would not want to close again the same week. If I would have closed, I would have caused a lot of chaos for all of them. It's not like I would have spent the day resting, either, because I would have still had my own kids and my poor husband to take care of. And, I agree that adults are MUCH better at keeping their germs to themselves. I promise not to spit on them or lick them or anything, and I'm an excellent hand washer. Nonetheless, I suppose an urgent care visit is in my near future, and if I do have strep I will of course let them know.

As far as telling the parents, I would probably tell them. They wouldn't care, though, because my husband is a great sub and the kids like him better than they do me! In this case, I don't think you'd have to tell them unless you think someone would be upset if they didn't know. The kids will probably tell them anyway.