In Portland, summer typically waits until the 5th of July to make its grand entrance. However, this year, it arrived with a flourish, bringing mid-90s temperatures in mid-June. Normally, I would revel in the sunshine, especially after enduring the usual rain showers, but this particular week was different. My partner was in Europe for work, leaving me to juggle a rambunctious 16-month-old and our 100-pound lab while managing a full-time job at a Fortune 500 company.
I had navigated solo parenting during his trips before and was confident I could handle this. The heat was a concern, but our daughter’s room had a portable AC unit, and I was prepared to deal with a little discomfort. However, when she woke up at 1 a.m. on the second night and refused to settle down, I realized we were in for a long night. I eventually brought her into my bed, where the temperature hovered around 85 degrees. Neither of us got any rest, tossing and turning until she finally dozed off around 5 a.m. I attempted to sneak in a workout but was interrupted just 20 minutes into a 30-minute DVD.
Desperate for some time to prepare, I wrangled everyone, including our panting dog, into the bathroom for a quick shower. I had an offsite presentation that day and had hoped to look polished, but with unkempt curls as my only option, that dream faded. As I sat on the bathroom floor, half-dressed and entertaining my daughter, my partner FaceTimed us from Europe.
“Check it out, I’m at the Berlin Wall! We had some free time, so I’m exploring,” he said.
I tried to absorb his experience and the historical significance of Germany while simultaneously preventing my daughter from chewing on tampons when suddenly, our dog began to vomit. I dropped the phone, apologizing to my partner while rushing the dog outside. My daughter, sensing my distress, began to cry, and I was acutely aware that my partner was likely still on the line, witnessing my chaotic morning unravel.
After finally corralling everyone into the car, my partner called back. “How’s it going?”
Despite considering myself a capable person, I felt overwhelmed. Tears began to flow as I stammered, “The dog, the heat…”
“What can I do?” he asked.
With the clock ticking and knowing I was running late for my offsite, I suggested, “Could your parents install an AC unit?”
At 8:55 a.m., just as I pulled into the parking lot of my offsite (which started at 8:30), I received a text from my father-in-law asking what type of AC unit I wanted. I attempted to reply while wandering around a golf course in search of my team meeting. I stumbled into the correct room at 8:59, the last to arrive, with only one seat left next to the vice president. It was clear everyone had been waiting for me, so I quickly took my place and pulled out my laptop, attempting to shift from flustered mom to competent professional. Meanwhile, my phone buzzed incessantly with messages from my father-in-law and my partner checking in.
Apologizing to the VP, I briefly explained my morning, and he sincerely asked if I needed to step outside to gather myself. As a new team member, I graciously declined his offer, striving to maintain a semblance of professionalism, though the entire group was clearly eavesdropping on our exchange. I ended up recounting the chaos of my morning, likely branding myself as the “crazy mom” for the foreseeable future.
The rest of the day went smoothly. I made it through my presentation and daycare pickup, and thanks to my wonderful in-laws, arrived home to a pleasantly cool house. The next morning, my boss inquired about my day. As a fellow mom, she appreciated my story. By the time I finished recounting the details, she was in tears from laughter.
“I’m not laughing at you,” she reassured me. “I’m laughing because I’ve been there too.”
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In summary, juggling parenting responsibilities while managing professional commitments can lead to chaotic yet humorous moments. With the right support and a sense of humor, it’s possible to navigate these challenges with grace.