In Portland, summer often feels like a latecomer, only making its grand entrance around July 5th. However, this year was different; it kicked off spectacularly with temperatures soaring into the mid-90s by mid-June. Typically, I would revel in the sunshine as we usually brace ourselves for showers, but this particular week, my partner was away in Europe for work. This left me to juggle our spirited 16-month-old and our enthusiastic 100-pound lab, all while managing my full-time role at a Fortune 500 company.
I’ve navigated solo parenting during his trips before, so I was confident I could manage. Sure, the heat was a hurdle, but with a portable AC unit in my daughter’s room, I thought we could endure. Unfortunately, on the second night, she awoke at 1 a.m. and refused to settle back down, leading to a chaotic night where sleep eluded both of us. By 5 a.m., as she finally drifted off, I attempted a quick workout but was interrupted just 20 minutes into my routine.
With the clock ticking, I gathered everyone—including our panting pup—into the bathroom so I could shower. I had an important offsite presentation that day and hoped to look polished, yet I ended up embracing my natural, unwashed curls instead.
While perched on the bathroom floor, still damp from my shower and playing with my daughter, I received a FaceTime call from my partner. “Hey, check it out! I’m at the Berlin Wall. We had some free time, so I’m exploring!”
I tried to absorb his excitement while multitasking—pulling tampons from my daughter’s mouth—when suddenly, our dog began to vomit. I quickly dropped the phone, apologizing to my partner while frantically yanking the dog out the door. Amid the chaos, my daughter wailed at my distress, and I could only imagine my partner, in Germany, listening to my morning unravel.
Eventually, I got everyone into the car when he called again. “How are you holding up?”
Although I pride myself on being strong and capable, this was too much. “The dog, the heat…” I managed to choke out, tears welling up.
“What can I do?” he asked.
Time was slipping away, and I was racing against the clock to avoid being late for my offsite. “Could your parents come and help with an AC unit?”
As I pulled into the parking lot at 8:55 a.m., a text from my father-in-law popped up, asking what kind of AC unit I needed. I attempted to reply while scurrying around a golf course searching for my team meeting. I burst into the correct room at 8:59 a.m., the last to arrive, and the only seat left was next to the vice president. Everyone had clearly been waiting for me, so I quickly settled in, attempting to transition from flustered mom to composed businesswoman. My phone buzzed incessantly with messages from my father-in-law and my partner checking in.
I sheepishly apologized to the VP, sharing a brief overview of my morning. He looked at me sincerely and asked if I needed a moment to step outside. As a new team member, I appreciated his offer but politely declined, aiming to regain my professionalism. However, my morning saga had inadvertently captivated the entire group, leading me to recount the chaotic series of events. I probably branded myself as the “crazy mom” for the rest of my tenure on the team.
The remainder of the day passed without incident. I successfully navigated my presentation and daycare pick-up, and thanks to my wonderful in-laws, returned to a cool home. The next morning, my boss asked about my day. Knowing she was a mom herself, I thought she’d appreciate my story. By the end of my recounting, she was in stitches, tears streaming down her face. “I’m not laughing at you; I’m laughing because I’ve been there too.”
In the whirlwind of parenting and work, it’s comforting to know that we’re all in this together. For more insights on navigating parenting in today’s world, check out our related posts on home insemination kits and the journey to parenthood.
Summary:
This humorous account captures the chaos of parenting while juggling work responsibilities. Lila shares her experience of managing a hectic morning solo with her toddler and dog while her partner enjoys a trip to the Berlin Wall, ultimately leading to a relatable moment of camaraderie with her boss.