Job requirements for parent of child with eczema and food allergies
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Anonymous
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I currently WAHM most of the time and have a very flexible schedule. I have started looking for a new job as, unfortunately, my current job may not be feasible much longer. As I look at open positions, I am afraid I am restricting myself too much. In addition to not wanting too long of a commute (and unfortuantely, most of the positions I am seeing are), I also don't want to do much travel (ideally none, but will reluctantly consider a position with 10-20%). We have 2 kids. One is school age and I don't want to miss the special events in his class and after school. But of more concern is my 2 year old who has multiple food allergies and eczema. The eczema requires a lot of attention (daily baths and applying multiple lotions/ointments several times a day) and the extent of food allergies requires a fair amount of cooking at home (as it is, I should be doing more of this). How do others who work and have kids with these conditions make it work?
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Anonymous
| The other parent has to do more once you start working. And some things have to dropped. And more chores have to done on the weekend (esp. the cooking). |
Anonymous
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short commute, flexible but decent hours (8 hr days)
we hired a family friend trying to start a catering business to cook meals for us on sundays and we freeze them for the week. |
Anonymous
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We are dealing with the same issues, plus asthma. Haven't been able to go back to work yet.
Families I know in a similar situation who have two parents working, have relatives in town who can help with care. A skilled nanny could also help make this work. Or one parent with a lot of flexibility, plus some careful planning with meals. Best of luck! It is a tough situation all the way around. |
Anonymous
| OP, my 4 yr old has asthma, eczema and food allergies. Both my husband and I work FT although I have the flexibility to work from home. I have specific instructions to the preschool to apply lotions on her during the day when needed. I premake allergy free cupcakes and store them in the freezer so that we can bring them to school when there's a party.They have inhaler and epipen at school. They call me beforehand if they feel that she needs her inahaler. I wake up at 6 every morning to make her lunches and make a lot of the meals on Sunday nights. Yes, it's work, but I think it's manageable and never do I feel like my job would get in the way. I do think that because of our situation, either my husband or I would always need to work near the school. If I needed to look for another job, that job would ideally not be more than 30 minutes away from her school since my husband is an hour away in DC during the day. |
Anonymous
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Several baths per day?
Most dermatologists recommend reducing the drying effects of baths, not increasing them. You may need a better dermatologist. |
Anonymous
Agree. That treatment does not make sense. |
Anonymous
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Honestly, OP, these don't sound like an insurmountable obstacles. Caregivers can be trained to attend to your child's needs while you are at work.
That said, it sounds like you don't *want* this job, or any job. This is a whole other problem. Personally, I think it's irresponsible for an able bodied adult to avoid paid work outside the home. However, this is not a popular position and the truth is you and your spouse need to have a serious discussion around how your family will meet your needs. |
Anonymous
Agree also, should be infrequent baths. |
Anonymous
| At that age, unless they are funky (the type of ripeness that can't be fixed with a washcloth wipedown), they don't need baths, especially if they have eczema. |
Anonymous
Should say "frequent baths" |
Anonymous
This isn't true. The latest thinking is that short, lukewarm baths followed by emollients is best for eczema. |
Anonymous
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OP here. Thanks for the responses of others in similar situations, it is helpful to hear.
Just to clarify on the baths, it is one per day. Our dermatologist actually said to do what works best for us. for some less frequent works better, but we have found daily works best for us. My children are currently in school/daycare, and the daycare staff work well with us to manage the eczema. The issue is having the flexibility to go to many doctor appointments and be able to quickly get to daycare if needed. And I know this isn't specific to having an atopic child, but our mornings and evenings are so tight as it is that we would lose more of that time. |
Anonymous
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So a once a day bath is the norm for kids, no?
Re: multiple doctor appts: maybe you need an au pair or somesuch. If you need to work, you manage like the rest of us, and maybe your partner steps up to help more, you cook on weekends and freeze stuff, etc.... |
Anonymous
Is it really THAT many appointments for those conditions? My DD has asthma, food allergies, eczema and we cover all three conditions with one appointment at her allegerist, who also handles the asthma? It really shouldn't take that much time out of work if you schedule appointments at beginning or end of day. Or tack on to your lunch hour. Do you really want to work? |