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Sick child | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)

[new] It depends (none / 0) (#1)
by mbirgen on Wed Apr 07, 2004 at 08:26:38 AM PDT

My kids are pretty young. Usually when they are sick, they are content to just hang out with us in the office (my husband is in the same department). However, when tummy troubles hit a few weeks ago, we had to stay home with the kid and just try to make things up with the students when things improved.

[new] Experience but no answers (none / 0) (#2)
by halewis on Wed Apr 28, 2004 at 08:22:40 AM PDT

Sometimes I've cancelled classes -- my husband and I try to take turns, and I also try to build a few days leeway into every schedule (a couple optional topics or making every class day before exams a review/catch-up day) so that if I have to cancel a class I'm OK. A couple times last year I brought a not-too-sick 2-year old to my classes with me. Both times it was just a review day, and I'd made up review handouts, so I thought having a child in the class wouldn't be too disrupting. The first day was fine -- we got through everything and the students enjoyed it. The second day was AWFUL; we barely got through the material, and it was way too distracting having him around. I apologized to the students and never brought him again. They were very gracious and I didn't get any negative feedback from this, but I think that's because I acknowledged that it didn't work and it was a one-time thing. I might also have had leeway in their eyes because it was a majors class and they knew him (I bring my kids to social functions). I don't know where that leaves me. With older kids I'd risk bringing them to class again if necessary, or paying a student to watch them during class (I've known other people who have done this successfully). And if I knew ahead of time I could ask a colleague to cover my classes, but sickness doesn't always give much warning. I don't feel like I have good answers for this.

[new] sick child (none / 0) (#3)
by sormani on Sat May 08, 2004 at 08:22:20 PM PDT

I have a child with Asthma who used to be sick a lot. I found that there are two levels of work: must-be-there time (teaching, seminar I host, committee meetings) and other could-be-home time (grading, prep, research, organizing seminars, committee work). I try to maximize my could-be-home time by choosing service like webpage development and organiztional stuff. Also, I try to make my must-be-there time different from my husband's. This can be easy as an academic. Since my husband works 9to5, I teach evenings. If you don't have a spouse, making a similar arrangement with a colleague might help. I can work at home with a sick child because I think TV is fine for a day in bed.

Sick child | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)

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