Disabilities and working parents

[jillgibson]

DH and I both work full-time and it is terribly difficult leaving Avery some days. I really struggle leaving her in the care of others, because I'm a control freak when it comes to here care. There would be no way I'd be able to do it if I didn't trust (and love) the people she stays with. She's with my mom two days a week and with one of my best friend's mom two days a week. I only work a half day on Friday and Avery comes to work with me.
I'm very fortunate that I work at a business that my parents and I own. My mom works there part-time too. Obiviously, since the bosses all have Avery's best interests as a priority in life, I have an advantage many working parents do not have. If Avery is at all sick or wheezy, my mom covers for me. She's more comfortable working extra hours than caring for Avery when she is sick (because Avery can deteriorate very quickly).
Still, I'm left with incrediable guilt. I often am up in the middle of the night catching up on work. I have the guilt of letting my parents down (not that they have ever said anything) when I have to take a week off work at a time. I have the fear about not being there if something happens.
This has been a really bad week for me because my mom is sick in the hospital herself. I've had to cover her hours and take Avery with me this week. It really isn't as good of a situation as it sounds working in a family business. I lost my help (I'm the "boss" at work) and my childcare, plus I was expected (and wanted to) help with my mom.
I'd love to have someone to vent about our special issues if you'd like!

[wuvmyangel93]

Stacy

I too am willing to chat about issues with working and being the parent. I am a single working parent, which sometimes is more difficult than 2 parents and up until 2004 I had to work solely from home.

Now I have a wonderful sitter her asthma has been in good control for years and I work somedays outside of the home, it is still very stressful.

I don't know what I would do if I lost my childcare, a daycare center is still not an optimal option for her with all the medical issues and their use of cleaners etc.

[em]

I am a single mom, and work a fulltime job as well as a part time job. It's a struggle (while right now I am staying home until he fully recovers from surgery) it's hard to even think about the idea of leaving him.

[cantlaugh]

My husband and I both work full time. It is out of necessity not out of want...however, I would love to work part time, or even be a sahm...However, finances and our desires to live a certain lifestyle will not allow that....So off to work I must go....

The sad thing is that I have had to take to working Nights, to allow for all the needs of Keytyn. I don't think people understand the stress that comes with a child that has special needs....It seems like appointments up the quazoo, and one small step foreward takes commitment beyond belief (the brief celebration is overshadowed when someone says 'Well he is (however old) and he is just now doing that".....

It is hard, and then finding a daycare provider that can adequately take care of your child is dang near impossible....We have had three day care switches in a matter of months...The first one was obvious, because his care was inadequate....The second one just kind of took us by surprise when the sitter said..."I have taken another job and have decided to not do day care anymore. You have 11 days to find daycare"...What the (fill in the blank)...

Yes if you want to PM me, feel free....I do understand the stresses that come with being a working family..

Love
Donna

[Myra]

Thankfully I have been able to work part time and my boss has been wonderful letting me work my schedule around John's therapy. I was able to get a wonderful homeschooling mom from our church to come to my house and watch John while I worked. Now that he is in school mornings now it is a little easier but I rely mostly on ladies from my church to watch John. It is easy to find child care for the girls. There are no childcares that take special needs kids around here.