Monday, April 16, 2012

Little Bugs

It's time to write about the second-most discussed parenting issue (after sleep, or lack thereof): illnesses.

Every parent discovers this wonderful universe of bugs, at the latest when the first child starts daycare, or for siblings, from day one onwards. The first year of bugs can be tough - both on the child, as well as on the parents, who usually constantly get ill as well.

Mild illnesses pose one big practical problem for a working parent: what to do with work? Imagine returning to work after a maternity leave, and then having to drop out for a week every month, because your child has an ear infection, bronchitis, fever, lice, diarrhea, an eye infection... Add the usual doctor's check-ups and jabs that you need to get in the first year, as well as any additional tests that may need to be done (e.g. sight, hearing), and multiply that by the number of children you have...

We've been incredibly lucky so far with illnesses in two respects: we haven't really had any serious ones, and one of us has been flexible with work. We've rarely been ill ourselves. But I have many friends where both parents work, and where a child has been hospitalized for weeks on end, with another sibling at home to take care of.

There are only so many sick days that you can take "for" your child here in Germany, and the rest has to go from vacation days. And an employer may not jump from joy when this vacation comes unannounced, at the worst business time.

Grandparents are a savior in such situations, and babysitters may be able to help for mild issues. But most parents just muddle through. It's tough when you're mildly ill yourself, have to take care of at least one or more energetic siblings while one is bed-ridden, and there's shopping to do, and other errands to run.

Knock on wood that we all keep experiencing only these mild illnesses (and do not have to face anything serious), and that our employers (and colleagues!) have enough understanding during these trying periods.

No comments:

Post a Comment