“Mommy, you didn’t come to my Fun Run yesterday!”
These were the words my precious five-year-old said to me recently as we settled in for a cozy moment before starting our day. He gazed up at me, his little frame nestled in my arm, freckles splattered across his nose and cheeks resembling a starry sky. I nearly slipped into the common response many working moms do. “I had to work.” But that morning, I paused, took a deep breath, and looked into his bright green eyes, choosing to be honest.
“Sweetheart, I had a project at work that’s really important to me, and I needed to be there.”
This isn’t a tale of working mothers versus stay-at-home moms; I believe we’re all in this together. I’m fortunate to have a job that offers me flexibility in my schedule. I’m not a corporate mom, a traveling professional, or a CEO, but I am a mom who loves her work and hopes to advance in my career. While I can attend many field trips and Fun Runs, I know there will be events I’ll inevitably miss.
After sharing my truth with my little one, I waited for his response. He had questions. “Why did you choose to work instead of being at my Fun Run, Mommy?”
I adjusted my hold on him so I could look at his face more clearly, which is always the highlight of my day. “I wanted to be at your Fun Run and at work, but sometimes I have to make difficult choices and pick one over the other. Some days I come to volunteer at school, and that means I miss work time; other times, I need to focus on my job to help our community grow. When I can’t be right next to you, do you remember where I am?” He pointed to his heart and smiled.
“Did you feel me running alongside you during the Fun Run?” I asked. He nodded enthusiastically. “Did it make you a bit sad that some other parents were there and I wasn’t?” He confirmed with a nod again.
I assured him I understood his feelings and reiterated that families come in all shapes and sizes. Some parents can be everywhere at once, while others must decide when to be present.
I’m not certain how much of our conversation he absorbed that morning. After our cuddly chat, we both jumped into our busy routines—him packing his backpack, getting dressed, eating breakfast, and brushing his teeth while I juggled similar tasks and tried to sneak in some work emails. What he took away from our discussion remains a mystery.
Yet, I know that as he matures, I will continue to be open about my career and my love for it. I’ll explain that I won’t always be able to attend his activities, but my love and support will always be with him in his heart. For more insights on parenting and home insemination, check out this article. You can also explore resources like Cleveland Clinic for more information on related topics.
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Summary:
In this heartfelt reflection, a mother shares a poignant moment with her son after missing his school event due to work commitments. She emphasizes the importance of balancing work and family while reassuring him that her love is always present, even when she cannot be physically there.