1.18.2011

Sick.

Last night, as I’m fighting a terrible cold and wondering if I should call in sick, I kept second guessing myself. All the while feeling horribly guilty at the prospect of not going in. This is the lot of a sick teacher.

Do businessmen feel this way then they have to miss a day? When I used to work in the ‘real world’ as I like to call it, I had a boss, she was Russian, and with the thickest Russian accent you’ve ever heard, she used to always say, “If we don’t get our reports done, the world, it will still be spinning, no?”

Don’t get me wrong, I realize our dear Earth will spin regardless of whether or not I call in sick or not. I’m actually in the unique position of not having to write sub plans this year. That is only one of the many, MANY perks to co-teaching. We write and prep our lessons at least a week out together. I also know there will be consistency when I’m not there because my partner will keep things running as usual. So why the guilt?

Perhaps my mother taught me (as taught to her by her own mother) to really lay the guilt on myself. Who knows?

I did bite the bullet and call in sick. As luck would have it, a massive snowstorm moved in late morning and my school had an early release. I suppose Mother Nature has her own way of telling us what to do. Point taken. I’m off to rest on the sofa with my dog.

7 comments:

Betty said...

It is always a tough decision, but if you are sick, don't feel guilty. Stay home and get well. My sister has a hearing problem today because, as a second grade teacher, she didn't take care of herself and let a bad ear infection cause life long problems. I stayed at school all day with kidney stones. I was in absolute pain but refused to leave. The bottom line is that you have to take care of yourself in order to take care of others. Plus, it's not good to expose others if you are contagious.

KellyTeaches said...

Oh man, I am the same way! Always massive guilt about calling in sick and then check my email compulsively all day to make sure everything is going okay. Hmm psycho haha.

Jessica S. said...

I hope you feel better!

Rene said...

I agree wih Betty. "The bottom line is that you have to take care of yourself in order to take care of others. Plus, it's not good to expose others if you are contagious."
And I had about 8/23 children absent today. It's this horrible flu going around. Usually my attendance is pretty normal, but don't get me wrong having 15 instead of 23 is AWESOME!! Got tons done but also not able to teach anything new in math.
With that said, Please take care of yourself and don't get others sick.
We will miss your blogging if you are horribly ill ;)

SassyGinger said...

I can understand this. Luckily I stay pretty healthy and as a result have accrued 5 weeks of sick time. The first time I went on vacation while teaching I actually checked my email once or twice...Ive learned.

Stay home, get better and think how happy your kids will be to see you when you get back!

Plants seeds of knowledge...for our future! said...

Hope you start feeling better. I know what you mean. Then when I am at home sick I worry how my kids are doing at school.

~A said...

I'm one in the same when it comes to guilt. Seriously. I almost have a complex. When it comes to being sick around kiddos, though, I just picture an entire classroom full of runny-nosed, coughing, miserable kids almost falling asleep on desks whose parents refuse to keep them home, and the guilt is gone.

Staying home is truly doing what's best. Glad you didn't have to make the tough decision, though!