The struggle of a working mom is real

Patrick was away for the last couple of days at a work conference.  But I had plans in place for everything to run smoothly. I had an important meeting at 8am this morning that included deans and directors, where the task force that I've been on would be presenting our recommendations for some programming on campus. One of my neighbors would bring Peyton to school and I would bring Elliana to school earlier than usual, but it would be fine.

Except at 4:30 am this morning, it suddenly wasn't. But I was in denial.

Elliana: Mom, wake up. I don't feel good.

Me (groggy) what's wrong?

Elliana: I don't know. I just don't feel good.

Me: breaking a cardinal rule - get in my bed and go back to sleep.

At 5:30, it's now time to get up. But Elliana has finally just fallen back to sleep.  I decided to get up and start getting ready and then get the kids up, hoping it would all be fine.

Peyton was grumpy, but I got him out the door. Elliana was sleepy but I managed to get her dressed, amid protests she wasn't feeling well.  I had to make a call, stay home with her in the chance she was sick and miss the important meeting? She wasn't running fever and couldn't really tell me what was wrong. Or send her to school and hope for the best?

The eternal optimist in me decided I would bring her to school and hope for the best. It's hard to tell with her sometimes whether she's being dramatic or whether she doesn't feel well.

I dropped her off and drove 45 minutes to campus, ran across campus to my meeting, walking in 15 minutes late. I'm already making a great impression here. 

I sat down, contributed to the conversation with about three sentences when my phone started ringing. It was daycare's phone number. You know where this is going....

Teacher: um, Elliana is sick and just projectile vomited all over the place. 

Raise your hand if you're surprised. Anyone? Anyone?! 

So I drove 45 minutes back to school to pick her up at which point she runs over and jumped into my arms, excited to see me. I guess she's feeling better? 

She's currently on her third episode of wild kratts, after several episodes of Daniel Tiger and a viewing of Frozen. She isn't eating much, but she's still singing and dancing. And hamming it up for the camera. She isn't allowed to go bank to school tomorrow since she threw up all over the place there this morning, so we'll do it all over again tomorrow. Except the part where I drive an hour and a half across town. 

 

As for the meeting, I quietly picked up my stuff and left after being there for just a few minutes. I'm quite sure I was judged. Whatever. Isn't the first and won't be the last time I'll need to run out the door to rescue a kid.