It’s pretty much universally understood that when you’re calling out of work, you’re letting them know, not asking permission. Odds are if you’re calling out you’re either sick, someone in your family is sick, or otherwise having an emergency. It’s not something to be taken lightly. This is especially true if you have children. Everyone you work with should acknowledge the fact that family is going to come first, no matter what. You have a job to support your family, so when the job gets in the way, it’s clear which side you’re going to take. This should be no surprise to employers, who likely have families of their own as well. 

It doesn’t always manifest that way, though. Sometimes managers get their priorities mixed up and lose sight of the important things in life. This often leads to conflict and doesn’t always end well for every party involved. (AKA someone is bound to quit or get fired).