By ZIEMAN
It is never easy to deal with sick children especially when you are a working parent. This is the dilemma that working parents face. It is actually a tough decision whether to take leave or leave the kids with relatives or a babysitter.
Most working parents feel guilty having to send their sick children to the day care centre, but sometimes they are left with no choice especially if they don't have a helper nor supportive relatives, and they have exhausted their annual leave.
Social media executive Diana Roslam, 28, finds herself in a fix each time she has to take her child for her immunisation jabs or when one-year-old Emma Arianna falls ill. Her husband works out of town and although her extended family is ever supportive, the onus is on her to take care of her child at such times.
“I’m lucky that the place that I’m working at is close to home. I get 15 days off in a year. But it’s only April and I’ve already used up seven days; four days in the hospital and three days of her having fever due to teething. I find myself counting the days left and sometimes saying ‘No’ to having a couple of days off from the hectic-ness at work just because I want to keep the leave for 'Emma-gencies'.
“As a mother to a young toddler, I feel guilty leaving her at home but if I were to give up my job, I would not be able to provide her the future that my husband and I want for her. We wouldn’t be able to buy her toys, educational books, diapers and milk, among other things. For now, my priority is to balance work and family, and at the same time, try to hold on to whatever makes my baby happy.
“I love my baby and would do anything for her. If I could, I’d stay home with her and teach her all the things that I want her to know, but I don’t have the luxury of doing so. There are bills to be paid and of course, THAT piece of paper that I worked hard on when I graduated from university,” explains Diana.
Deciding when you need to stay home and which times your ill child can stay home without you is tricky. There is no way to tell how ill your child will get as the day progresses and how much he will need his mum or dad.
Hunsa Eakturapakal says, “When my child falls sick, I find it tough deciding whether to go to work or stay back. I feel more guilty when I'm left with no choice, especially if I have to go overseas or attend an urgent meeting.
“Although I'm a director of the company, I try to follow the rules and regulations of the company in terms of taking emergency leave,” says the 30-something director who works at marketing company Siam Connection.
This doting mother has to travel quite a bit because of her job.
“Nothing is more difficult than leaving my son with my husband or in-laws when he has a fever. I know they will look after him and give him the proper care and medication, but I can't help feeling guilty because the one thing they can't do is be me. When my son is sick, I know he wants me. Whenever that happens, I'm literally torn between staying back and going to work,” says Eakturapakal who has two sons – Pete, five, and Chris, 10.
Although she is blessed to have her in-laws and a reliable helper who have been an amazing support system, she can't help but give in to her maternal instincts when her child falls sick.
“If I can help it, I will try not to travel so much even though it's compulsory for me to fly to Thailand once a month. I don't mind working at odd hours as long as I can see my kids' faces, cuddle them and talk to them,” said Eakturapakal, a Thai national who has Malaysian PR status.
To make up for the missing hours, Eakturapakal devotes her weekends fully to her kids.
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