They just don't get it.

In corporate America there is an overabundance of people who just don't get it. They have absolutely no idea (an no desire to know) what it's like for a person with young children. Some don't have kids so they have no clue. Heck, some of those don't even like kids so it's easy to sneer at those of us who do. Some have older kids and thus have forgotten those days when they were young and caught EVERYTHING that came near them illness wise. Others have those "stay-at-home" mommies who play tennis at the country club and take their kids to play groups or mother's day out while they get their nails done. A smaller sect has a nanny to deal with the unpleasantries of sick children.

Alas, I'm a middle class mom who has a self employed husband and unfortunately, I'm not independently wealthy. I have to artfully balance being a good mother with being a good employee. A daunting task when faced with those listed above. So when I have a sick child I must choose between being the good parent and being the shitty (wait, did I say that?) poor one and dumping my sick kid on someone else. Hmm, well let's see. I didn't procreate for someone else to have the responsiblity for my child(ren) or to pick and choose the moments I will partake in. I did it because I wanted to share my life and my love with more than just my husband. My children are my joy and my legacy so I put them first. Shockingly before my job....my JOB...not my career because being an admin is no career. Despite that being my "foot in the door" with this company but that's another LONG blog about glass ceilings and ridiculous preconceived points of view.

I think that a sick child needs a parent. More often than not, that parent is Mommy. Why? Because we have a built in "comfort mode" that children cling to when they don't feel good. So now I have to choose between making some uptight, self centered person who doesn't give a rat's behind about me or my kids happy and being at work or being at home and taking care of a toddler who feels icky and doesn't know how to tell me where it hurts. A little baby girl who spent almost 12 hours vomiting and is rung out like a wet rag. What's the choice in that? There is none. My children take precedence over everything else....EVERYTHING.

So here's a note for all the uptight, self centered, nose-looking-downer's out there who want to pass judgement on a woman for being a good mother and missing work to care for a sick child. I'd like to see you do everything a working mom does and still walk upright. I'm sure you go home and sit in your comfortable chair in front of the evening news while your wife prepares your dinner or opens the take out containers. Meanwhile I'm up to my ears in my first job - being a mom, after busting my buns at my second job - dealing with grown up children for 8+ hours (I say + because I end up missing lunch most of the time to take care of crap for you!). BITE ME.