Poorly high school children?!

[amy56]

Hi all,

Question for you!...

Both of my boys have woken up really unwell (raging throats, coughs, aches - it’s been threatening for a couple of days in fairness to them).

They are rarely ill, so it’s been a while since I’ve had either home from school, and previously I’d of either had the day off to look after them, or my mum would of come up.

Mum has a life limiting condition now, and so has to avoid any colds etc, so that rules her out, and my work will be fine I know, (I work for my church), but I’m just wondering - what do others do - the boys are now 15 and 12, so quite old now, but it still feels wrong as their parent to leave them when they are feeling so rough?

(My 12 year old doesn’t like to be home alone anyway, so I wouldn’t hesitate to stay home for just him, but wondering as the 15 year old is here, whether generally people would expect me to leave them to fend for themselves?)

What do you guys do when you have a poorly pre-teen/teen?

[klr15]

I’m not a parent and I’m 24 now, but when I was in high school I would stay at home alone, even if I had a sickness bug. I had no family who could come and stay and my mum couldn’t take time off.

I was used to being home alone, she worked full time.

[Disneycraft]

I think if you are able to stay home then do so . I would x

[WhereIBelong]

My 2 would stay home alone from 14, but only if not a vomiting bug and they felt Ok to be left.

My girls are/were quite resilient, so I knew if they actually wanted me home that they needed me.

Only one at school now - 6th form (y13), she would go in if a limb was hanging off, apparently catching up is brutal...

[Floridatilly]

if you can be off then I would. They will need regular medication (paracetamol etc) so you can make sure they take the right dose at the right time. Plus even teenagers want to be fussed over when they are poorly 🤒 lol

[Omega1]

I would want a responsible adult to be with them, especially in the early stages - just in case there is an escalation of the symptoms. Probably ok to leave them once over the worst.

[lorrie36]

I also think if you can stay home when they are poorly, then yes , if your youngest doesn’t like being home alone.
Like others have mentioned remembering about medication too.
Many parents don’t have a choice nowadays, and can’t.

I also grew up being left home alone, from time to time, if I was poorly (from ages 12/13 onwards), we didn’t have family around either.
I turned out ok... I think.
I think it always depend on your child 😊

[Guest]

I was having this conversation with my dh the other day regarding my eldest (12). I said I would be happy to leave him at home if he had a cold, but vomiting bug I would want to be home. I’m lucky that my parents are in good health, have retired and live nearby so they could pop in and make him lunch or stay with him if needs be.

[Smilesonfaces]

I have been lucky and my children hardly ever poorly. My son would have slept off illness and I certainly would have left him once he was in high school. He had a phone if there was a problem. Daughter can be a drama llama so I would too be in a quandary but a quick phone call and I would be home. I have no family to ask so I have been lucky mine have never really been ill.

[Sandra & co]

Are you near by so could come home if they needed you? I would ask them how they feel about me going and leaving them, if you are near they could call you to come home. Hope they feel better soon xx