concerns about returning to work...

I am so worried about returning to work. While i am on leave, I have learned that they have dumped a new responsiblity on me. In addition to the 16 clients i have, i have learned that i will have to travel at least 3 times a week to a neihboring town to do counseling there and to do presenations at the schools. I feel that this will be too much for me at first given the fact that i havn't been there in a while. Turns out that the other counselors fingerprints didn't clear so im on my own. I don't know if my boss really understands. I am eager to return, but not to all that. I don't know what to do. There are other reasons why being 35 minutes away is not good. I have a son who suffers from asthma, and i am afraid that if he has a severe attack at daycare, i will not be able to get there in time...i am so stressed out, i don't know what to do
sacha

Some other Sister (can't remember which one) got her doctor to write a note limiting her to 6 hours per day the first week and 8 hours per day the second week, otherwise she would be working 14 hour days and on weekends. Is it possible to ward the onslaught off with a very assertive message regarding your limitations?

Good luck to you.

You can talk to your dr about your work situation and see what s/he is willing to write for you. Some will write notes for fewer hours and/or fewer responsibilities.

And you can also talk to your son's dr about how to handle an asthma attack and have a written plan and meds for the daycare provider to use.

Best wishes to you!

With your son having asthma and your concerns it really doesn't matter if you are 35 minutes away or 5. Even if you were close, you need a back up plan in case you can't be reached, your car breaks down, the phones aren't working, etc. I am not trying to scare you, but if you are putting your child in someone else's care for long periods of time, chances are something will happen and you won't be able to be there. You need to have a clear plan written by your doctor (quite possibly with supplementation from you of early warning signs you see or things that are comforting) of exactly what needs to be done. Then you need to take the time to work through it with the staff at the day care. The better the plan is, the more likelihood of a positive outcome.

You also need to worry about yourself. If you don't think you are up to handling see if your doc will write up something for part -time as you start.