Looking after your kids, when they are sick...

[Power Lunch Club]

I am self employed...so I have a degree of flexibility when it come to looking after my son when he become unwell...as I work from home a lot (my wife works full time). So I can be here...which can be difficult if you are trying to make calls with a 4 year old scream for your attention (yes, even when sick).

Now there are times when I just can't do it, and we have to call upon the services of my father-in-law (who lives a 5 minute drive away) and that works okay...we don't ask him to often to look after our son...so it's not a great imposition.

Now yesterday I was visiting a business associate of mine who runs a furniture business. She had asked her dad at short notice to look after her daughter and the dad had said yes...but when she picked her up at the end of the day, the father said, yes, that fine,...it will be a couple of hundred pounds!! And he wasn't joking apparently. In one sense I can see his point...he was asked to change his plans for the day at short notice.

But now as she runs a furniture business, she has a bed installed in her office...they have plenty of space and clients don't need to see her office. And the children and entertained with some TV and reading materials. It of course means at least mum could get some work done and when you own and run the business it's a necessity to be there.

So who would look after your kids at short notice and is it right for them to be recompensed in some form, whether they wanted it or not?

 

[Tim Barlow]

There just aren't easy answers to this one but it is a very good reason for living near family.

Is it right for them to be recompensed in some form

We always do our best to show it is appreciated in some non-monetary form. Chocolates, flowers, theatre tickets, food etc. A picture from Georgie as a thank you card seems to be appreciated too!