flea | (no subject)

I have a problem.

I am congenitally incapable of taking a sick day.

I have tons of sick time - nearly 2 weeks at this point. I think I've taken 2 sick days since I came back to work after Casper was born.

I am sick. I have been sick for a week now - it's been pretty annoying since Friday.

I am tired. Casper was up 5 times in the night Sunday night, so last night we did a cry cure (yes, again), and she cried for more than an hour and I couldn't take it and nursed her. Only up 2 times, but of course the first time was a doozy. I would much rather have been wound up from Red Sox tension than crying baby tension! Was able to unwind thinking about how much Casper will enjoy Xmas with gifts and cousins and dog. Must remember this trick for future tension.

So, logic dictates - stay home! Get rest! Get well!

But, I am the first one in my office; often (today) the only one by most of an hour. I open the desk, which we staff, at 8. This week we are collecting statistics, and the forms are on my desk, and need to be distributed daily by me. And there's training from 9-11 that I've been agitating for for months, and it's only also offered Friday, when I have another meeting I cannot miss. So here I am.

This is the logic that has prevented me from calling in sick every day since last Wednesday. Every day there is something that I can't afford to miss - a meeting I called, three meetings with no way to contact people, etc. And I open the desk every morning.

I am too responsible. My level of responsibility also means that half my department can't blow their nose without me to hold the tissue. It's a puddle (or possibly a muzzle).

Note: mr. flea is FINE, was positively giddy he felt so well yesterday, though he has used the inhaler they gave him (it made him throw up - he said that tasted awful, too). Casper is well and charming and we went to the library to get some books we haven't (yet) read 437 times. I am still longing for material things (went to an open house for a $469 K house in my neighborhood, longing for Zutano bear har for Casper).

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

When I was a kid, periodically, my mom would grant me a "mental health day." It sounds like you need one (and a physical health day, too). So TAKE ONE! If you woke up and couldn't sit up without feeling nauseous, you'd call in sick and the desk might not open on time and you know what, that wouldn't be your problem. It would be your boss's problem for not having a back-up in place in case you're sick. And if you're home sick, it's not your responsibility to call off meetings. (Though I totally understand not wanting to miss the meeting that you've been agitating for for months.) And if they all get to the meeting and say, "duh, Phoebe's not here, what do we do now?" maybe they'll (at least momentarily) realize that they're doofuses. Here endeth the lecture.

(And you know that I'd do the same thing you're doing. And you'd give me the same lecture, yes?)

Sweetie, take a day off. The desk was there before you came to town, and in your absence, someone will miraculously remember how to open it. (And, yeah, I'm exactly the same way)

You can also take some time today to make arrangements for staying home tomorrow -- can someone else come in early? Do you need to reschule anything? Etc.