Sick Days...

[mightymoo]

I think the one thing I dislike most about being a SAHM is that I get no sick days. I have some sort of sinus/jaw infection - I feel like someone has been punching me in the side of the face for days. I hate that I can't just go to bed and sleep and get better. I also hate that I feel like its too hard to go to the doctor because what am I going to do with the kids? DH used to stay home with me when I was sick at his old job, but he's fairly new to his new company and gets far less sick days himself and now works a long commute away, rather than just around the block.

Ugh, just another reason why being a SAHM is harder than most people think.

[boongirl]

I agree. But, if you are really sick, don't be averse to calling your dh home. I've done that with mine. You have to take care of yourself so you won't get more sick.

[bananahands]

Here, too. If I had a list of things I wish I would have known/done before making the SAHM choice, a sick-day agreement with my husband would be at the top. In every other area he is a fantastic, 50-50 father, but for some reason we have yet to find a workable solution for this scenario.

To anyone lurking who is on the verge of becoming a SAHM, talk about this with your parnter before your baby is born!

[Tori Gollihugh]

I second, third, fourth, and fifth bananahands emotion! Thankfully this hasn't been an issue for us as yet, really - but I can definitely see the potential problems from hubbies who don't recognize! the difficulties of SAHMing!

[afishwithabike]

Yeah, I NEVER get sick days I don't get to LEAVE work and I WORK while I'm Sleeping. Humm, I don't ever get paid either. Oh wait yes I do. Everytime my DD or DS give me kisses and as DD puts it "UGGY UGGY Pweeps mommy uggy". Love those sweet kisses and hugs. I know they won't last very long so I eat them up.

[bri276]

I KNOW. last weekend in this order baby got sick, DH got sick, and by the time *I* got sick I also developed bad mastitis partly due to being run down for caring for the two of them all weekend. so I made DH take out Mon.- I can't imagine what I would do if he couldn't! hope you feel better soon.

[hjohnson]

DH will stay home and work from home if I am feeling really bad. I am glad he has that option.

[Lady Madonna]

My DH stayed home just yesterday because I have an awful case of laryngitis and was ordered on total voice rest - so being home alone with a 2.5 year old would have been insane. He'd have stayed home today, too - my voice is still mostly gone - but we were able to get a drop-in space at her preschool today, so she's there.

He rarely gets sick, but gets generous sick time, so he doesn't mind using it for me, which is great.

[kittymac]

Argh! I totally relate. DH just started a new job 2 months ago, so is still on probation. He doesn't want to take any time off work just in case. I am pregnant, at home with a 2 yr old, and have a terrible cold. I feel like crap!

This is definately not one of the better things about being a SAHM. :(

[sarah_bella1050]

My dh has been home the past two days b/c I am sick. Normally I would just deal, but this cold is making my asthma flare up big time. I can barely get off the couch and I even went to the E.R. yesterday, I couldn't imagine what I would do if my dh couldn't take the time off work.

[Sharlla]

Dh doens't get sick pay and we can't afford him to not only miss a day of work, but miss getting his bonus either. I guess I never get that sick but it wouldn't matter because I nurse the baby so either way I'm stuck with him. Luckily my 7 year old is pretty good about fending for himself and keeping the baby company should I need him to. I suppose if need be, the kids (when baby is done nursing) can just go to my MIL's house for the day. I've had her take DS1 before.

[Starflower]

DH will stay home and work from home if I am feeling really bad. I am glad he has that option.

I am lucky and thankful to have this situation as well. Some days, DH will actually take the entire time off because DD is very demanding. And he rarely gets sick. Which is good, because we don't have any family living here to help out in a pinch.

"Luckily" for me last time I was sick was this New Year's Day so DH already had the day off for holiday. :sick Just another reason I was glad we just stayed home instead of going out to celebrate. :lol Seriously though, if I hadn't been able to sleep all afternoon, it would have dragged on a lot longer.

Hope all you sick mamas are feeling better really soon. :grouphug

MightyMoo - :Hug please try to find some way to get to a doctor if you can. Can a friend come with you and watch the kids in the waiting room or go for a walk with them while you're at the appointment? I've done this for dental appts. and going to the OB/GYN for an annual exam. Hang in there. I hope you can get some rest.

[Storm Bride]

DH can (usually) work from home if I'm really, really sick. But, that's still not 100%, because he does have to work. It does help - nice to have somebody to pass the baby to while I go puke or whatever...

But, you know...when I was a WOHM, it was no better. We paid for childcare by the day, and I couldn't afford to pay if I wasn't earning any money - small company, no sick days. So, my "days off" were actually SAHM days, while too sick to cope. I don't think there's any way to manage the sick parent thing that doesn't suck...illness and children aren't a good combination.

[Montessorimom8]

I soooo agree with you. My immune system is pretty shot, and when ds brings things home (which is allll the time) I also always get it. It is such a challenge to be a good mom when you are sick. To me it's the absolute worst thing about being a SAHM.

[Bearsmama]

I've often thought this. Rarely, I've had to call DH home from work-literally maybe 3 times. But many times I wish I could have a "mental health day". You know, a loung-around, take care of yourself, kinda day. I feel like I'm whining here, but seriously not having the ability to EVER take care of myself in this way is sucky. Part of being a mom-a SAHM-that I never would have thought about before having kids.

[mightymoo]

I've often thought this. Rarely, I've had to call DH home from work-literally maybe 3 times. But many times I wish I could have a "mental health day". You know, a loung-around, take care of yourself, kinda day. I feel like I'm whining here, but seriously not having the ability to EVER take care of myself in this way is sucky. Part of being a mom-a SAHM-that I never would have thought about before having kids.
Yeah, me too. When I worked I rarely stayed home sick, but I would take mental health days fairly often as my job was so stressful. Being a SAHM is at least as stressful as that job was if not more so.

[clynnr]

All I've wanted to do the last three days is sleep because of this horrible cold/sinus/cough thing, but it's not "bad enough" to call DH home. :( I did make him stay home when I had the flu, but then he went into work on his day off instead.

I've often thought this. Rarely, I've had to call DH home from work-literally maybe 3 times. But many times I wish I could have a "mental health day". You know, a loung-around, take care of yourself, kinda day. I feel like I'm whining here, but seriously not having the ability to EVER take care of myself in this way is sucky. Part of being a mom-a SAHM-that I never would have thought about before having kids.YES! And I always feel so guilty if I plan a day of this on one of DH's days off. He only gets two a week, and I feel like I should be spending quality family time with him and DD, not spoiling myself.

But sometimes you just have to do it, just to stay sane, KWIM? ;)