Working Mom Guilt, Episode 1

I’ve been settling into my new job pretty well the past few weeks, and I thought I kind of had things under control: work, housework, blogging, parenting, speech therapy, big kid homework, church…I mean it hasn’t been quite as hard as I thought it would be, not that it’s been a walk in the park or anything…

I kind of thought the kids were adjusting well, too.  I mean honestly, except for Jonah’s displeasure at having to get up at the butt crack of dawn for preschool every morning, things have seemed pretty much normal.

Until.

Friday last week my parents stopped by for a few minutes, and we were discussing plans for them to watch Jonah in the morning while the big kids and I attended the Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome. Then my mom said, “Is it ok if I take Sophie to the library after you get home? She told me she was tired of her books but that her Mommy has a new job so she doesn’t have time to take her to the library.”

My jaw about hit the floor. I felt the knife pierce the outer part of my heart ever so swiftly. Ouch.

But then, honestly, I laughed. My mom’s revelation was truly a funny moment, but I was also shocked.

Had Sophie asked me to take her to the library? I thought about it for a moment, then concluded that she had. A couple times. Dangit!

My mom and I had a good chuckle as she reminded me how I used to be very forlorn the one or two times a year when she had to travel for work. And I particularly remember being peeved that her job prevented her from taking me to 5th grade skating party once upon a time. (Note: my kids have never attended a school skating party, because before I had a job, they had a little brother and there was no way in the hell that IS Skateworld that I was going to take them if I had to bring baby brother along. But I digress.)

In the end, Grandma saved the day and took my poor neglected child to the library (and Dairy Queen) and I survived my first episode of working mom guilt. I am sure it will not be the last. Hopefully none of these episodes is lethal (to me or to them. Heh.)

I think the moral of the story is, when your mom gets a job, it’s a great tool for grandparental extortion.  Just act sad about all the time she spends working (while you’re at school) and Grandma will be putty in your hands. Live and learn, kids!