Sick kids and workdays

When your child (or any loved one) turns into a mini tornado, wreaking havoc on your work focus, it's time to embrace the art of resilience and try not to get too worked up.

Picture this: your to-do list is as War & Peace, but your child has a temperature hotter than the centre of a McDonald’s apple pie and needs a sick day, turning your workspace into a makeshift doctor's surgery.

Take a deep breath, acknowledge that things won’t run as smoothly as first anticipated, and cut yourself some slack. Make sure you inform your colleagues about the unexpected events ensuring they don't think you've run off to join the circus but try and stay relaxed.

Set some realistic expectations, and just do the best you can, deadlines can be as flexible but don’t spread yourself too thinly. Enlist the help of family or friends if possible, form your alliance to tackle the day, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself.

Just remember you are not the first person to face this problem, people will understand and kids bounce back really quickly.

In the grand theatre of life, applying magic to both sick kids and work is just another awe-inspiring trick. Stay resilient, laugh off the chaos, and remember, even the best conjurers don't pull off their tricks every time.