In Portland, summer typically doesn’t arrive until after the 4th of July. However, this year kicked off with a heatwave in mid-June, with temperatures soaring into the 90s. Normally, I would relish the sunshine after months of rain, but this particular week my husband was away in Europe for work. I was left to manage our lively 100-pound Labrador and our extremely active 16-month-old while juggling my full-time position at a Fortune 500 company.
I had navigated solo parenting during his work trips before, so I felt confident I could manage it again. The heat presented a challenge, but with a portable AC unit in our daughter’s room and my willingness to endure a bit of sweat, I thought I’d be okay. However, when she woke up at 1 a.m. on the second night and refused to settle down, I sensed we were in for a rough ride. I eventually brought her to bed with me, where the temperature was a sweltering 85 degrees. Neither of us managed to sleep well, and she finally drifted off around 5 a.m. I attempted to sneak in a quick workout, but just 20 minutes into my 30-minute routine, she woke up again.
Hoping for more time to prepare, I gathered everyone—including our panting dog—into the bathroom so I could take a shower. I had an offsite presentation that day and wanted to look presentable, but with the chaos, I settled for my natural curls instead of a polished look.
While I sat on the bathroom floor, half-dressed and playing with my daughter, my husband FaceTimed us from Europe. “Look, it’s the Berlin Wall. I had some free time to explore,” he shared.
I tried to focus on his words while simultaneously retrieving tampons from my daughter’s mouth when suddenly, the dog began to vomit. I dropped the phone, apologizing to my husband while yelling for the dog to get outside. As I rushed him to the backyard, my daughter cried due to my distress, and I could only imagine my husband on the other end, witnessing the chaos of our morning.
Once everyone was finally in the car, my husband called back. “How are you doing?”
I considered myself a resilient woman, but this was overwhelming. Tears streamed down my face as I murmured, “The dog, the heat…”
“What can I do?” he asked, while I noted the clock, aware that I was running late for my offsite, needing to drop my daughter off at daycare first.
“Can your parents come and install an AC unit?”
At 8:55 a.m., just as I pulled into the parking lot—missing the scheduled breakfast at 8:30—I received a text from my father-in-law asking what kind of AC unit I wanted. I tried to respond while navigating the golf course to find my team meeting. I entered the right room at 8:59, the last person to arrive, with just one seat available next to the vice president. It was clear everyone had been waiting for me, so I quickly took my seat and pulled out my laptop, trying to transition from frazzled mom to composed professional. My phone buzzed non-stop with messages from my father-in-law and my husband checking in.
I apologized to the vice president and briefly explained my chaotic morning. He sincerely asked if I needed some time to step outside and collect myself. Grateful for his kindness, I politely declined while trying to compose myself. Yet, by now, the entire group was intrigued by our conversation, eager to understand what had caused the delay. I ended up sharing a recap of my morning, probably branding myself as the “crazy mom” for the rest of my tenure on the team.
The rest of the day unfolded without incident. I made it through the presentation and the daycare pickup, and thanks to my supportive in-laws, I returned to a cool house. The following morning, my boss inquired about my day, and as a fellow mother, I thought she would relate to my story. By the time I recounted the details, she was laughing so hard that tears streamed down her face. “I’m not laughing at you,” she reassured me, “I’m laughing because I’ve been there too.”
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In summary, parenting can be overwhelming, especially when faced with unexpected challenges while managing work responsibilities. However, with the right support and resources, it’s possible to navigate these hurdles with resilience and a sense of humor.