R.J.
Okay... For ME... The great thing about (well,one of) school
WAS being able to miss class not only when my son was sick, but also 'minor' things like tantrums (and dealing with them right then and there instead of having to reward the tantrum).
I have the syllabi. I know what's being covered/assigned. I can read on my own. I can get noted from other students. I can email my profs (actually developed great working relationships with several PURELY from emailing and office hours from missing class), I can go in during office hours, I can (for missed labs) go in during open lab.
The ONLY 2 days I couldn't miss we're midterms and finals. I made sure to have backup childcare for those days in case he was sick (happened a few times!).
In all my years in school, I've only had one class with an Attendence policy that wasn't x'd out by doing extra credit and having a good working relationship with my professor. (It was a 'fluff' class, too, taught by an idiot. He docked someone for being in a car accident where they had to be hospitalized for 3 days. Rolls. Eyes. Most classes are MUCH more reasonable).
It's part of why I preferred being in school instead of working, when my son was little... Because the schedule was soooooooo flexible. ((Ecen nursing practicums, nurses have kids).