Tuesday, March 11, 2008

The shortest work day ...

1 hr 8 minutes. That is how long I was at work today. Barely enough time to get logged in, respond to emails, sip coffee and eat my homemade banana bread I brought for breakfast. Certainly not long enough to get any actual work done. Then at 9:23 am the daycare called and said I needed to pick up Bear because he is running a 101.6 temperature.

I packed up my laptop and informed my boss that I would be back Monday. (I have to keep Bear home tomorrow because of the fever and I am off Thursday and Friday for Spring Break). She verified I will have email access and can VPN in to complete my work. Of course.

I picked up Bear and on my way out I asked the bookkeeper if I could get some kind of discount for the week since I paid for the entire week and Bear was there for yesterday and less than 2 hours today. She said she doubted it but she could check with the center director. The director came out and said she could check with her boss because they are supposed to charge for an entire week if the child attends even 1 day. This is not what I was told when I first signed him up for the daycare.

So now I am home with my sick child napping and I am about to crack open my laptop to try and finish up my work. There are worse things than having to work from home and have the rest of the week off. Still, I am ready to be home full time and be done with the daycare, the illness and work. Plus my doctor co-pay increased 300% effective March 1st which makes it not only an inconvenience but also a significant expense to go to the doctor. My heart really goes out to single parents and couples who can't make it without two paychecks. Y'all are heroes. Truly.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry to hear Bear is sick again! Those yucky day care germs!!

I'm currently in a battle with my day care about weeks that Jack and Will will be gone all week. Like next week, for example, they are going to visit their dad in Rhode Island for the whole week. The day care center says I have to pay anyway and I am not happy at all about that policy. Ugh.

Enjoy the rest of your week off!!!

Candy said...

It totally stinks that they won't refund the days, but I suppose if they did, then people would be in their punching a time card and paying as they go, and that's a headache for their bookkeeping.

But you're right, I don't know how people (we) are supposed to survive this economy.

CP said...

oh no, I hope he feels better! Enjoy your time away from work too :)

KG said...

Ugh . .. day care. My kid has a nanny we share with another family with one kid. I sort of wonder, though, if it isn't better for them to just get the day care disease out of the way so that they don't get it when they start school? Ah, well, it's a real pain in the arse either way.

Amanda said...

So sorry baby's sick, but maybe your week off will cause your boss to begin shifting her focus to your replacement. Enjoy your non-office time!

Oh, and a 300% increase?! Did I read that right? Wow! It may be time for new insurance...

Swistle said...

The health insurance thing is ker-razy. Our monthly contribution is now more than our mortgage payment, and our co-pays are STILL going up.