I'm a lone parent with four kids. The eldest 2 are at High School and can walk themselves there. They leave the house just after 8 o'clock as school starts at 8.30am. That leaves me with the youngest 2. My daughter is too sick to go to school and was feeling too sick to travel in the car, however, I needed to take the youngest boy to school and he is too young to walk himself. (His school starts at 8.55 am). I have no family or friends that live near enough for them to help me out, and Startrite won't help as my youngest is over 5. (The neighbours are too elderly to help too). Social Services say there is no help available. Basically I need to be in two places at once!
What should I do? My friend (who lives miles away) was in a similar situation last week - she was really ill and couldn't walk her kids to school. The school wouldn't help out (insurance reasons) and she got reported to Social Services!
2007-10-18 22:01:38 · 33 answers · asked by nettyone2003 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Grade-Schooler
call them both in sick
2007-10-18 22:04:41 · answer #1 · answered by Death Girl Am 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋
Could you get your kids who are in high school to walk your 5 year old? This is extenuating circumstances and I think if your older kids are late by 10 or so minutes, especially if you write them a note explaining the situation, then it would be ok. Your 5 year old has teachers or school yard attendants in his school yard for a few minutes before class. Right? So, you must make the best of it.
Also, frankly, if your daughter is that sick, then I wouldn't be worried about your 5 year old missing school! He's in kindergarten for gosh sakes! One day won't hurt. One children get to grade school, people start becoming picky.
You sound stressed as it is, so just relax and if anyone says anything, then they are just crazy. If Social Services says there is no help, then it would be nuts for them to do anything to you because they absolved responsibility when you asked them for help! And anyway, why in the world would someone report your friend to Social Services if she was sick! Why didn't these people help her instead. We live in a society where people will not assist others in need, but they'll go out of their way to report them! Where's the logic? I'm surprised they haven't started burning single moms at the stake!
But after this, I think you have to look to strengthen your support network, if only to relieve stress and get things in order to avoid this in the future.
Good luck and God Bless.
2007-10-19 03:20:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a child that if she gets sick she needs to be seen immediately by a dr,she is immunosupressed. I have 3 children. When she gets sick none of my kids go to school. I can't risk it.
I don't drive and live next to the school,but I choose to keep them home. When one of the other children get sick I take many things into consideration.
Like....
how does the child look,lethargic, or okay
fever
vomitting
diarrhea
etc
As an adult we know what it feels like when we are sick,we want to sleep. I hate the thought of packing up a sick child. However,two of my kids are in school full time and one in SK.So my other 2 can take themselves to school.
But if this wasn't the case I would have them all home. The schools are very understanding here.
2007-10-19 02:50:54 · answer #3 · answered by gotchagood 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How old is your daughter?
If she's old enough to be sensible, not so ill that she needs you right there every second, and your elderly neighbours are friendly and in, I would go round and ask one of them if they would mind sitting in your house for an hour while you drop your son off at school.
Alternatively, you wrap her up warm and put her in the car, she'll just have to cope.
For the next time this happens, I suggest you make a reciprocal arrangement with another lone parent with a kid at the same school, so when they have a major problem you take their kid to school and vice versa.
But to be honest, this really sounds like "what excuse can I make to not have to take my kid to school" type fishing for answers.
2007-10-19 00:55:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Speaking from experience I must say that you have to take this child to school. So off you go. YOU know what to do, nobody here has to tell you. I know you say that the sick child won't get in the car for fear of getting sick. (take a small garbage can just incase this happens) The school can't be that far away, get going. You are doing the right thing .... by taking your son to school, he doesn't need to stay home just because his sister is sick.
2007-10-19 02:40:42 · answer #5 · answered by OMGiamgoingNUTS 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know how you feel I also have no help with the children & i'm afraid to say that the poorly one has to be dragged out on the school runs for the other children, prehaps i'm lucky that the school is only a minute or two away so the drive is not to long, but i'm afraid its a case of plastic bag incase she throws up & get the other child to school.
It's very hard & chances are when one gets better the other one will get sick & then you will have to drag that one out to !!!
2007-10-18 22:43:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like at the moment you can do nothing..Are your elderly neighbours not able to sit in your house for you.
If you cannot take your child to school I would ring up the school and tell them of your situation.
I know its hard making friends but you need to get friendly with another Mum at the school so that you could share the school run in future.
If you get a caring Teacher they may be able to help, or suggest a helper to you or even introduce you to another Mum. You do need a back up its so hard on your own. Is there no chance of the Father helping out on occasions.
Sorry I could not be of much use....I wish you well.
2007-10-18 22:11:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ah....we've all been there. The answer is that you pack your sick child into the car - with pillows, blanket and bag to throw up in if needed and then you take your youngest to school.
Neither child can be left on their own.
One other option....keep your youngest home from school. Call and ask what he will be missing at school and spend some time making sure that he makes it up.
Long term...you need a girlfriend you can call (and who can call you) when these types of emergencies crop up.
Good luck.
2007-10-18 22:07:00 · answer #8 · answered by Liisa F 2 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Well, here in the USA, your children need to be in school, but if one is too sick to go, you might as well keep the other one too, because he might get what she has, and if he goes to school spread it to other kids. I am sure the other moms would appreciate you keeping him home.
But, here, YOU CANNOT LEAVE A YOUNG CHILD BY ITSELf, NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION, YOU WOULD REALLY GET IN TROUBLE, AND THEY MIGHT TAKE THEM ALL AWAY. SO THINK ABOUT IF IT IS WORTH IT, if keeping one child out for a day or so, but being there with them, or risking it and leaving the sick one alone! I hope not!!!
2007-10-19 01:54:17 · answer #9 · answered by see0marah 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
keep them both home with you
when i am too ill to take my son to school he gets the day off ('looking after' mummy) - no one persecutes me for doing that
if the school has a problem with that then they can find a way of helping you
your friends school sounds rather punitive - and perhaps they were just trying to make an example of someone rather than insight into the situation (idiom - idiots in motion?)
i knew of a family where the parents were unable to get their kid to school so a teacher from the school would collect and return the child every day - i am sure that they managed to clear insurance in the name of common sense!
2007-10-21 13:23:42 · answer #10 · answered by Aslan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
could u take the youngest to school and have one of the oldest be a little late to watch your sick kid. You could probly write a note saying that your kid was late cause He (or she) had to help a bit at home and had to watch there sick sister while you took the other to school it should get your kid in trouble cause you wrote a note and if they call you, you could always tell them what happened and atleast shes being watched and I'm sure one your older kids would help out (unless they hate you). Hope this helps.
2007-10-18 22:10:01 · answer #11 · answered by Blaze16 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋