Child’s Illness, Job, and the Struggle of Responsibilities.

Hello dear friends,
I hope you all are doing well and spending a beautiful life with your loved ones. I wish you all happiness and peace.

There are moments in life when the weight of responsibilities becomes overwhelming. Balancing family and professional life turns into the biggest challenge. Recently, I faced such an experience at work. One of my colleagues has been absent from the office for the past three days. In his absence, his tasks have also fallen on my shoulders. Managing my own work along with someone else’s is truly exhausting.

Yesterday evening, I told my manager, “Sir, how much longer can I handle this pressure? It’s not possible to manage two people’s work at once.” He replied, “He’s not answering his phone. We don’t even know when he’ll return.”

This morning, I decided to call my colleague myself. After a while, he sent me a picture. As soon as I saw the picture, I understood—the palm of his little child had a large blister. Seeing that image really saddened me. When a child falls sick, parents go through immense emotional turmoil. All their plans and time revolve solely around the child.

When a child is sick, parents forget about themselves and do everything for their child—staying up all night, rushing to doctors, buying medicines—every responsibility falls on their shoulders. The situation becomes even more stressful when both parents are working professionals. Job responsibilities, office deadlines, and an ill child at home create a crushing mental burden.

But office duties are important too. After all, jobs don’t wait for anyone. An employee’s absence disrupts the workflow. Missing work for consecutive days increases pressure on colleagues. That’s exactly what happened in my case. I had to take on my colleague’s workload, handling both his and mine. This situation doesn’t just affect me—it affects the entire team.

So, what’s the solution in such situations? I believe there needs to be mutual understanding from both sides. Parents must be there for their child during illness, but they can also reduce the pressure by seeking help from family members. In my colleague’s case, he lives in his hometown, has a wife, parents, in-laws, and siblings. Taking their support could ease the stress and prevent job-related worries.

On the other hand, companies and managers should show empathy toward employees. Granting a few days of leave or allowing remote work can make a huge difference. When a child is sick, parents go through extreme mental stress, making it difficult to perform normally at work.

The reality of life is that both family and professional life hold equal importance. Neglecting one affects the other. That’s why it’s essential to maintain balance through proper planning, cooperation, and mutual understanding.