who helps with the kids when you're ill?!
 

Hi All,

Just sat at home recovering from a nasty bout of food poisoning - as usual my parents have been fab looking after our daughter when I was incapacited and OH was working - gives you some second thoughts doesn't it?

How easy have people found it to deal with circumstances like this in Oz when the family aren't there?

Cheers,

Jane

xx

Re: who helps with the kids when you're ill?!
 

Hi Jane
I've been thinking of that too.
Our friends out there have no family there. They have said that their friends become their family and help with the kids.
Thats just some of the things that I am really going to miss.
Sponge

P.S. are you better now?

Re: who helps with the kids when you're ill?!
 

New friends are a great help! We didn't know a soul when we came here but have made a number of friends I could call if I needed help. Failing that hubby has to pull his finger out!

Tracey

Re: who helps with the kids when you're ill?!
 

I'm nearly better now thanks - back to work next week I think. I guess I know you would find a way, it just seems a bit daunting! I guess if they weren't there when my daughter was on school hols, she'd have just had to entertain herself! She's just a bit rubbish at that sometimes!

If she was at school I'd have probably had to frame myself a bit sooner!

xx

Re: who helps with the kids when you're ill?!
 

Thats good to know - we're not likely to know anyone either (or no-one near enough to help) - when you're used to just knowing people you've always known, it's difficult to imagine knowing NO-ONE and starting from there!

I think I'm just a bit freaked out this week. Hubby could have stayed off or worked from home if need be, but my mind has just started to work overtime (oh no what if he's just started a new job etc. etc.!)

Maybe when I'm back at work next week (less time to worry about these things!) I'll be OK again...

Thanks,

xx

Re: who helps with the kids when you're ill?!
 

Hope you feel better soon.

We've had to rely on friends while we've been living in the UK. We recently set up a babysitting circle with tokens. It is a good way to do it so then nobody feels like they are sponging off another person too much.

Re: who helps with the kids when you're ill?!
 

You get through it.

I had gastric flu, my wife a broken arm. my 2 year old daughter a bad case of the terrible two's.

Suggest you make friends real fast and be really nice to your neighbours.

Kiwi

Re: who helps with the kids when you're ill?!
 

We have nada (no-one) but each other :( no-one to depend on.

Worrying thing is im asthmatic,maybe this worry has kept symptoms at bay-who knows :rolleyes: Hubby can get away from work if need be but its worrying,i keep going regardless of how ill i feel,i have kids 2 of which are asthmatic & a son who has adhd, 14 & driving me bonkers!!
Maybe its routine??

Back in the UK we really only had hubbys parents to depend on (even then it was a case of only when neccesary) .......but even they turned funny when we said we were emigrating,even though they done it when they were young & stuck their kids in boarding school!)

End of day, 11/2 years in & we are still stuck on our tod,no-one really i can phone to take my kids if im 'really' ill.

Hubby makes friends really easy whereas im more reserved,just the way it goes i suppose!

Donna.

Re: who helps with the kids when you're ill?!
 

Donna

I felt really sad reading that - you've been so helpful emailing me about North Lakes, don't worry when I'm over in November for good I'll have the kids when you're ill!

I have my parents here 5 mins down the road and they have always maintained they have their own life now so they never babysit or anything so I don't feel I have anything to miss.

I fully appreciate they've had their kids and now it's their time to enjoy life and I'll probably feel the same when mine are off my hands!!

Jane

Re: who helps with the kids when you're ill?!
 

Ah thanks Jane :o thats really nice of you! & we too will do the same in return!

Thanks,
Donna.

Re: who helps with the kids when you're ill?!
 

Some - thought not all - employers are willing to help out too when tis the kids who are ill. I work for a Qld govt dept, and its quite common to see children at work with their parents because they are off school sick. Not infectious stuff or anything, but sprained ankles and that kind of thing. Depends on the individual manager, but some even let the parents bring kids in when there are pupil-free teacher training days etc.

Re: who helps with the kids when you're ill?!
 

Hello Jane . Hope your feeling better :D

We don't and never have had family here to help, our kids are 14 and 7. A few months ago both my hubby and i fell ill (only for a couple of days though), and 14 year old was dumped with it all, bless she coped fine :)

Anyway, as we have never really had help, yes friends do help us at times, but i don't like imposing too much,as they have their own problems and kids, but when you are in this position you become pretty efficient at finding out who is a family friendly employer , kids clubs, and private nurseries, needs must and all that. Also colleagues that i work beside were always sympathetic to me, as the know we had no family round about and offered their daughters services when my kids were younger, and i must admit the best baby sitter we have ever had was a brill 16 year old and the kids just loved her. :D , and still do :D

Re: who helps with the kids when you're ill?!
 

I have some great friends but they live about 40 mins from me.I have started to wonder who would really help if anything serious happened.

Re: who helps with the kids when you're ill?!
 

My Mum used to be my babysitter, for work, going out, just so I could go shopping etc. When she died there was no-one else to do it so I just coped.

Re: who helps with the kids when you're ill?!
 

We are not in Australia yet so I can only speak from my experience of being in Hants with no family around me. You cope because you are a woman and you have to - somehow we always manage it ;) - a couple of years ago hubby was away on a 6 month trip and I had to into hospital for an op - it was my friends who rallied round and looked after my daughter overnight without them I`d have been stuffed. I really envy those of you who are lucky enough to live close to family - appreciate them while you can (in fact when we move to Oz it will be the first time in 8 years that we will have family nearby). :)