I had a tummy ache on Monday. OK, it was more nausea than ache. I rarely get colds and it is even rarer for me to feel nauseous. I work with kids, so being sick is an acceptable excuse for all my coworkers, but except for missing a week of work while in the hospital with diverticulitis, I've never called out sick. Not a single time, in over twenty-two years of working with children. This is not to say I haven't taken a pre-scheduled day off, changed schedules to make work at a later date and simply, planned around expected events, it simply means, I've only once been too sick to work.
Let me also add, that before this year, I've never had a job, working with kids, that paid me if I missed work. Never! So a little nausea was enough for me to attempt to earn a paid sick day. Whether or not I am paid for it is yet to be determined, but I am hopeful I will be.
I do find it interesting that my symptoms were alleviated shortly after my request had been granted. Within three hours, I was completely fine and could very well have gone in ninety minutes late. I chose not to, because I'd then only be paid for those hours. A silly snafu to taking sick leave. I also did worry that if it were something serious and my body's ability to fight it was solid, but others may not be so lucky, I could get someone sick. So I stayed home.
The next day, two coworkers were under the weather. It's dawned on me, that in all my years working in schools, the absentee rate of teachers and child care providers is exceptionally high. It also makes me question sick and not wanting to work. I mean, if we're being honest, how often, in any field, have you been "too sick" to actually function and be productive at work? For me, it's been six days, well I guess now seven, but maybe less. Six days in thirty years. This is not to say I haven't called in sick for other jobs, simply because I didn't want to go.
I have more sick days to come and I'd be silly not to use them, as my coworkers do weekly, but I feel guilty. It is not that I view my attendance as paramount to our kids' happiness, but I feel an obligation to them. They are my kids and I value my time with them. I missed them on Monday. I miss them on the weekends, during breaks, and the summer is almost painful. The faces and names change, but they leave their mark on me and I love them and I feel loved. Being sick takes that away and when that is gone, even for a day, those symptoms run me down more than anything a cold could bring upon me. Sometimes, like many of you, I just need a day to remind me of how lucky I am.
Let me also add, that before this year, I've never had a job, working with kids, that paid me if I missed work. Never! So a little nausea was enough for me to attempt to earn a paid sick day. Whether or not I am paid for it is yet to be determined, but I am hopeful I will be.
I do find it interesting that my symptoms were alleviated shortly after my request had been granted. Within three hours, I was completely fine and could very well have gone in ninety minutes late. I chose not to, because I'd then only be paid for those hours. A silly snafu to taking sick leave. I also did worry that if it were something serious and my body's ability to fight it was solid, but others may not be so lucky, I could get someone sick. So I stayed home.
The next day, two coworkers were under the weather. It's dawned on me, that in all my years working in schools, the absentee rate of teachers and child care providers is exceptionally high. It also makes me question sick and not wanting to work. I mean, if we're being honest, how often, in any field, have you been "too sick" to actually function and be productive at work? For me, it's been six days, well I guess now seven, but maybe less. Six days in thirty years. This is not to say I haven't called in sick for other jobs, simply because I didn't want to go.
I have more sick days to come and I'd be silly not to use them, as my coworkers do weekly, but I feel guilty. It is not that I view my attendance as paramount to our kids' happiness, but I feel an obligation to them. They are my kids and I value my time with them. I missed them on Monday. I miss them on the weekends, during breaks, and the summer is almost painful. The faces and names change, but they leave their mark on me and I love them and I feel loved. Being sick takes that away and when that is gone, even for a day, those symptoms run me down more than anything a cold could bring upon me. Sometimes, like many of you, I just need a day to remind me of how lucky I am.
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