Dear working mom, This is me. Sitting in my car crying.
Outside of a medical professional’s office. Because I showed up 30 minutes late
(although it was the time I thought I was supposed to be there) for an
appointment for one of my children and they wouldn’t see me. An appointment
that took months to get. An appointment that was only the first appointment of
what is needed for this particular child. For this particular evaluation. And I
sit here crying knowing that this appointment is now rescheduled yet another
month down the road and the time just keeps ticking.
I sit here beating myself up- “never enough” I hear. “You
had to end the meeting early AND the appointment was wrong all along”. In one moment
I feel the rush of all the mistakes made in the last 11 years fighting to get
into my head. Into my heart. But then I think of you, working mom, and I think,
“Hell No”. This is not the story of us and all I can think of next is writing
to you.
Dear working mom, I see you. I see the heavy load you carry
at work and the load you have at home. I
see how hard you are working to do All. The. Things. I see the way you want to
be the best wife, the best mother and
the best therapist- teacher- doctor- engineer- project manager-
scientist-employee- boss- whatever you are. Not even the best…simply good. A
good wife. A good mother. A good whatever. I see the guilt you feel when you miss another
important meeting at work because you have a sick child and the guilt you feel when you miss another field trip because you
have an important meeting. You know you should read aloud tonight, but you are
just so tired. You know that the report has to get done, but you are just so
tired. I see you writing the note for the lunch box sending the good luck
wishes you missed giving in person when you weren’t there to take your daughter
to her first day of kindergarten. I see you at home answering emails and texts
in between checking on your sick son.
Dear working mom, I see the judgement you have felt from
others, but I also know you remain your harshest critic. I want to say this to
you as I loudly say it to myself, “You are enough”. Not perfect. But enough. And
enough is enough. It’s enough for your job. It’s enough for your children. It's enough for your community. I pray you can feel it’s enough for you.
Love,
Me
P.S. Dear single mom….I just don’t even know where to begin.
You Are A Rock Star.
P.S.S. Dear working at home mom- I know you have all the
things too. Same things. Different things. My hope is for you too to know that you are
enough. Enough for the world. Enough for your children.
P.S.S.S. Dear spouses supporting all forms of mom’s, thank
you. And specifically to mine, the one who sends a text in the midst of my car
crying that both sends love and makes me laugh, thank you. Oh how this whole
ship would sink without you- glad to be living “perfectly imperfect” with you.
