This isn’t a moan although it feels like it is.
This is the reality for a lot of working mums.
There are days where life is bliss and you love it. The joy of getting both worlds. Being able to work part time AND have time with your family and watch your kids grow up.
Some days are a nightmare. It can be so stressful you wonder why you even bother. Is it really worth it?
Below is my day today. I don’t think it’s any different from a lot of working mums. I’m not asking for sympathy. I’m not saying ‘poor me’. I didn’t understand how it was for working mums until I had my kids. I am a super organised, can think ahead and I’m a very good planner so when I get flustered, it’s usually for a good reason.
This was my day today.
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Up at 5.30am to get me ready then my daughter ready to go to daycare early so I can be at work by 8am. Hubby is away so I’m solo for the next few days. Thank goodness one child is away at Nanna’s for the week.
Start work at 8am and let the nurse know I’m solo at home and have to leave by 5.30pm to collect my daughter from childcare. I already have two extra admits before 9am. The extra patient that arrives from the emergency centre for continuing care, the tick paralysis puppy that turns up. I’m sole charge and I only have 1 nurse as the other is in late so in between consults and phone calls, we try to take blood, get animals on fluids, get things sedated, get the puppy treated, etc, etc. You know how it is. My cortisol levels are probably high..
Finally we have a second nurse.. Yeh!!!
We get into surgery and get that done. Finally lunch time. Not yet, I forgot we have to report these bloods, clip the tick puppy and bath it, check on the hospital animals, etc, etc. You know how it is.
Finally lunch time. Peace… a 30 minute lunch break. How lucky am I!!!
Ok, I am booked from 3pm – 5.30pm but it’s ok. I have to leave at 5.30pm to make it to daycare before it shuts. I have an extra 10 minutes up my sleeve just in case.
2.45pm – another tick paralysis case rings but can’t come in for another 1 hour. Oh crap, there goes my afternoon.
I start to get stressed. At one point I am so stressed I am in tears. I am so pissed at my husband for always having to work away & leaving me to do it all. I am so pissed that I have no family nearby that can help. I am so pissed that my poor kids have to spend 11+ hour days in school & daycare when my husband is away. That’s a long day for a 2 & 4 year old. I only started working more last year as I have been very lucky to find work that understands I have to leave at 5.30pm if my husband is away.
How am I going to get it all done & be out the door by 5.30pm? I have to make sure all the surgery animals are off their drips and ready to go. I have to check the tick puppy and make sure he’s right for the night or refer to an overnight clinic. I have to make sure the admitted dog is recovering, remove his drip and ring his owner.
Where are my nurses who could do this? Very busy at reception or finishing tidying up after surgery & continuously answering the phone calls. I only have two. It’s a Friday. You know what they are like…
In between consults I get the two other patients off their fluids and ready for home.
Now I see the sick cat that had to be fitted in as well.
My 4pm tick paralysis is here.
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This post was way too long so I have split it into two posts.
Follow the rest of the story HERE.
Natasha
