Sick Days

So I am reflecting back on the month of November.  I was not in school on any Friday in November.  I know that sounds bad.  Let's recap where I was.

November 4, Midwest Google Summit (PS greatest conference ever)
November 11, FBLA National Fall Leadership Conference - where I had to present
November 18, Home with a sick kid who was puking.

Now my post deals with Sick Days.  I had to take two the week of November 15.  My oldest son puked Sunday, so we stayed home on Monday, then again on Thursday night.  This was right after I got home at 9 p.m. because of parent teacher conference.

It is hard to prep and plan to be gone two days in one week.  I had to communicate with people in the building about "stuff".  I had a meeting schedule with student services on Monday to set up a online scheduling option for parents.  I know how hard it is to get them to both have a cleared calendar.  So my solution was I Skyped in.  Even thought I had a sick kid and I took the day off, I spend over 5 hours online that day with various people in the building.  I even Skyped in to my 1st and 2nd hour classes to give them directions and answer their questions.

Now on Friday I had the simialr problem.  I didn't have a meeting scheduled with anyone, but I knew students need to talk with me to answer their questions on their work.  I had to talk with my concession store manager about what to order for the upcoming Wrestling tournament.  We can't run out of hot dogs or buns.  I also had students Skype with me to answer their accounting questions.  I would say on Friday I only spent about 3 hour on Skype.  But still two days off of work and I still worked 8 hours.

My son was not feeling well but he was resting and watching TV and reading books so he didn't need a lot of attention from me.  Do all people put this dedication into what they do?  Why do people think I (meaning all teachers) don't work hard?