It's Monday morning and you find that your child is ill and cannot go to school. You're concerned about him/her - and you're also concerned about your job as you had to take a day off last week because your other child was ill. This is a dilemma faced by many working parents with young children.
Most bosses will understand if a parent (most often the mother) must miss work because of a sick child. But this patience may not last out if the absences become frequent. There are also some occasions like an important meeting, for instance, when your presence is vital. So what can you do?

Work Out a Back-up System

Often your child may not be seriously ill, but is not well enough to go to school. Try to plan out before hand various alternatives for this situation. Make a list of several people you can call upon to stay with your child. A grandparent, if they live close by and are in good health, would be an obvious choice. A relative or neighbor who does not go out to work and whose children are at school may be able to help.
What about your spouse? Would he/she be able to miss work and stay with the sick child part of the time?

Be Honest

If it is essential to miss work, be honest about how long you expect to be away. Don't say you'll be back the next day if you know it will take at least a week. This will help your boss to make proper arrangements and he/she can rely on your word.

Offer to Take Work Home

If you can do at least part of your work at home there will be less pressure on others at work and they are less likely to be resentful.

Be Willing to Reciprocate

Your co-workers are more likely to cooperate and take on some of your work if they know you as someone who is willing to take on extra tasks when one of them needs to take time off.

Leave a Written Plan

Always leave a written plan of the next day's work on your desk before you leave. In case you are unable to come, it would make the work much simpler for a substitute. You will find that this habit of planning will benefit your work in any case, because you will be better organized.

Balancing responsibilities at work as well as taking care of a sick child is tough but not impossible with these options Moreover, your boss will also realize that being a caring parent doesn't stop you from being a good employee who takes her / his work seriously.