Here’s the deal: I’m a working mom, and I lose a ton of precious time with my little ones throughout the day. Seriously, it’s a lot. I wake up at the crack of dawn to get to the office early, all so I can leave at a semi-reasonable hour and snatch a few crumbs of their day in the brief hours I get to spend with them.
Every single moment—from the time I hop into my car for the morning commute (after my partner practically shoves me out the door because I want just one more fleeting minute with their adorable, cheerful selves) to the moment I bolt out the door at GO-TIME—needs to be optimized and multi-tasked for maximum efficiency.
Because I want to get home to my kids.
When you stroll casually into my office for some small talk because you’re bored, I can’t help but feel tense knowing you’re stealing time away from my little ones. The clock starts ticking the second I notice your lingering hesitation to interrupt my focused work face with idle chatter. Honestly, if there was a small-talk loop on autopilot, it would go something like: “Yes, the kids are wonderful. Time flies, doesn’t it? Those terrible twos are something else! I can’t even imagine the challenges ahead in sixth grade, oh, and eighth grade… the teenage years, yikes! I’ll be nostalgic for these problems soon enough… And that hilarious story you told me about your kid at preschool? Classic!”
And then we seamlessly transition into your upcoming vacation plans (sweating through yet another seven minutes of chit-chat), your nieces’ new hobbies, or your dog’s recent health scare. I genuinely care about you and your family, and I know you love yours just as I love mine. But right now, I’d rather spend those minutes with my kids than discussing it. I understand that you, my single colleague, have your own meaningful life to share, but I just can’t dive into it right now.
Because I want to get home to my kids.
And let’s not even get started on the never-ending meetings, am I right? The ones where everyone talks in circles, repeating what’s already been said just to stamp their name on the conversation. Or those prep meetings leading up to the actual meeting. And who can forget the introductions to people who already know each other? That’s a solid ten minutes wasted, which could’ve been spent sending out those three emails I need to finish before I dash out the door to see my kids, or instead of writing them later when they’re finally asleep, and all I want is to collapse into bed or catch up with my long-lost partner for five minutes.
And sure, I know meetings are necessary for collaboration and problem-solving, but can we please be a bit more efficient about it?
Because I want to get home to my kids.
As a manager, it’s a challenge to balance being present for my team while being an attentive mother. I don’t have time to organize your team lunches, listen to your personal dramas, or give high-fives for simply being at work (yeah, looking at you, fellow millennials!). Oops, didn’t realize I was supposed to be the team mom and not your boss. My bad. Sometimes we ladies get a bit mixed up in our heads. But please forgive me.
And honestly, I appreciate the hard work you put in and how you’ve got my back, but someone else will have to bring the oranges after the game.
Because I want to get home to my kids.
I work because I hope that my little girls see their mom as someone who provides for our family, just like their incredible dad does. He shares the household responsibilities and the care for their well-being as an equal partner. (Not that it’s the only way or the right way; I want them to know they have options for who they can become.) Plus, living in New Jersey is expensive, so we simply can’t manage without it.
More than anything, I want them to feel the immense love I have for them, and how my heart aches every minute I work and miss their moments. I treasure every single second I get to spend with them. Enough talk about it though.
Because I want to get home to my kids.
For more insights into navigating home insemination, check out this excellent resource. If you’re interested in learning more about self insemination options, this at-home insemination kit is worth exploring. And if you’d like to reach out, be sure to visit this page for more information.
Summary
As a working mom, time is precious, and every minute spent socializing at work takes away from the time I could be with my kids. Meetings often feel inefficient, and while I value my colleagues, my priority is to get home to my family. I want my daughters to see the hard work I put in to provide for them, and more than anything, I wish to be there for every moment of their lives.