Both my husband and I work full time here in Tokyo, and so far have been able to juggle staying home from work when our child is sick. It’s usually a struggle but somehow we can make it work.
However, I have a new job where it is really bad form to cancel/call in to work as I have clients who schedule to see me sometimes months in advance. As my schedule gets busier, it is getting harder and harder to stay home, and my child keeps getting sick because they’re in hoikuen and parents with kids in hoikuen know it’s a constant cesspool of germs and viruses.
Now we’re in a really tough spot as my husband has several work trips lined up and will be away which leaves me in a bind. Any advice on wtf to do if my kid gets sick again? I’ve already had to cancel once and have everyone rescheduled as we both got Covid, and I can’t afford to keep canceling all my clients without getting in trouble with work (not to mention I respect my clients’ time and schedule also!). I am aware of sick child hoikuen (apologies for forgetting the correct term) but those usually require a doctors note before you can take your kid there. How the f am I supposed to get a doctors note and get my kid there before I have to be to work at 9:30 if they wake up with another fever? I feel so defeated and don’t know where to turn.
Any advice is much appreciated- thank you and good luck out there to all other working parents trying to survive this sickness season. I see you and hope you’re doing better than me 🙁
by princessptak20