Sunday, October 28, 2012

Working parent guilt

by: Joelle Charbonneau


HELP!

The last couple of weeks have been challenging.  A new book came out (yay!).  I’ve finished writing a manuscript (double yay).  I’ve been hard at work on revisions for one of my editors (eek!).  Through it all I’ve done my best to balance work and family.  There are days do better than others.  Some days I get lots of writing related stuff gets done, dinner is cooked on the stove and put on the table, laundry gets cleaned and the four-year-old is happy, healthy and all around awesome.

This was one of those weeks.  For those who watch my twitter feed with any frequency, you’ll know the small person in my house has a tendency to spike high fevers.  In the past year we’ve had pneumonia and several bouts of fever filled viruses.  This weekend was the second time this month we’ve watched temperatures soar over 102. 

Now, I’ll admit I’m getting pretty good at not panicking when fevers spike.  I’ve got the routine down.  The doctor only gets a call when absolutely necessary.  However, I have yet to figure out how to skillfully juggle being nurse-Mom and being working-Mom.  The days that the four-year-old is sick, work tends to get shoved to the side.  Although, some days, like this weekend, that wasn’t possible. 

And wow – does that make me feel guilty. 

Was the tot well cared for when I wasn’t putting thermometers in his mouth and snuggling him?  You betcha.  My mother is all kinds of awesome when to comes to my son.  But I still felt bad that I was busy with my work while he was ill.  I know I shouldn’t but I can’t help it. 

So—tell me DSD friends—do you feel this same guilt when you have to leave a sick child in order to fulfill other responsibilities?  Do you have a good method of keeping the guilt at bay?  I can use all the advice I can get!

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