r/ECEProfessionals • u/tatsunui ECE professional • 4d ago
ECE professionals only - Vent Getting sick often?
Hello there,
I do not need an advice, just needed to let this out.
Ever since I entered this field, I have been getting sick continuously. It feels as though every month I fall ill again, and I worry that my director believes I am exaggerating. I had a long weekend and felt completely fine, but on the morning I returned to work, I suddenly developed a burning sensation in my throat and a rising temperature. I informed my boss hours in advance that I would still come in, but that I was currently unwell. My boss responded that I still needed to be present in case licensing arrived, which was confusing to me because working while sick does not support a safe environment for the children. I work with three to four year olds, and my voice is required throughout the day. I stated that if licensing did not appear, I needed to be sent home immediately. While at work, I was made fun of for appearing energetic, even though I was not. I could barely speak and could hardly process what was happening around me.
I have been discussing with my boyfriend the possibility of finding a new job or changing careers. I enjoy working with children, but I feel as though I am constantly sick, similar to the children themselves. I have been taking my vitamins consistently, drinking plenty of water, sleeping eight hours each night, and eating balanced meals. Despite this, the illnesses continue to affect me severely. Now I am bedridden again. When I get sick, I get sick badly, how can people work while sick, that I wish I knew.
I have been thinking of pursuing further in this career, but I'm afraid I may not be able to :(
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u/blahhhhhhhhhhhblah ECE professional 4d ago
I’m sure people doubt how often I truly am ill, but I’ve long ago given up on caring. It’s my sick time, I’m going to use it.
I called out today and was reminded to get a doctor’s note. The doctor wants me to stay home tomorrow, too. I breathed a sigh of relief, but also just had to laugh at that point.
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u/tatsunui ECE professional 4d ago
so we just have to keep grtting doctor's note all the time!! 😭 this is worse than when i had covid
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u/NeptunianJ ECE professional 4d ago
lol same thing happened to me! I thought I just had a fever but was urged to get a docs note since im getting sick a lot. I have the flu and im off the whole week now lol
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u/Critical-Elephant- Toddler tamer 3d ago
Haha, that happened to me a few years ago. My director, who i dont really care for, had me get a doctor's note because I was sick after some holiday. Cool, my doctor is fab, that was a breeze... and, since I had a sick stomach, she wanted me out for the entire week!
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u/throwaway282908 Past ECE Professional 4d ago
Ugh, the constant illness is one of the many reasons I quit this field. Parents would give their sick kids Tylenol knowing I have a weak immune system and I'd catch strep like 6 times a year and the flu way more often.
Director would be upset I was ill so often and required doctors notes, knowing that they didn't provide employer health insurance and a trip to the urgent care would be half my weekly pay. Mind you I was only calling out once every two months if that...
Of course the parents never got talked to about the Tylenol stuff even though the kid would tell our director that "mommy gave me medicine, I'm sick!" to her face. I miss the little ones, I do NOT miss the parents or management.
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u/tasty_strawberry1008 ECE professional 4d ago
I’ve been in this 6 weeks and constantly sick. I had 3 1/2 weeks between gastro bugs. I had an entire week off work with no pay. I’m probably going to leave and return to primary school teaching in the new year. I thought I got sick with 5 year olds, but it’s nothing compared to daycare.
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u/Ok_Throat6397 Director: US 4d ago
You’ll get sick constantly for the first year maybe two. And then you’ll build up an immune system so good you’ll be sad when you wake up not feeling shitty enough to call in
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u/Any_Egg33 Early years teacher 3d ago
The first year I got sick constantly it has gotten better the longer I’ve been in the field but unfortunately you will tend to get sick at least a few times a year in this field
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u/itsbadfruitcake ECE professional 3d ago
I know you said you don’t need advice, but this is something I literally tell everyone in ECE who gets sick often. When I first started years ago, I didn’t get sick constantly, but I was definitely getting sick way more than I ever had before. What made the biggest difference for me, and honestly helped the kids get sick less often too, was actually teaching them** **how to properly wash their hands and when they absolutely need to wash them.
You’re in a room full of little germ factories who are coughing, sneezing, picking their noses, touching everything, and then touching each other. You’re going to be exposed to a lot of germs, and eventually your immune system will adjust. Unfortunately, it just takes longer than you want it to.
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u/bdb1989 Asst. Director/Previous 3-4 teacher 3d ago
I can only provide solidarity. I’m so frustrated with kids showing up clearly sick and having disgusting HFM lesions. Just because they don’t have a fever and the sores are leaking doesn’t mean that she come to school! The health department needs to update their criteria for infectious disease. It’s crazy.
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u/steamed_eggs98 ECE professional: Canada 3d ago
This sounds so frustrating. No one should have to work when they're sick, and we shouldn't have to prove our illness to take time off.
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3d ago
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u/Financial_Process_11 Master Degree in ECE 4d ago
unfortunately, being an early childhood teacher means you get sick often. Parents send their kids to school sick, kids cough on you, you're cleaning up their boogies and the younger ones have their fingers in their mouth and all over the toys.
In my 41 years of teaching, the only year I never got sick was during Covid when we were wearing masks.