You actually can achieve your own version of work-life balance, but if anyone tells you that it is easy, they’re delusional. All working women recognize this scene:
You’re on your way to work in plenty of time for your presentation at 9 a.m. Your 4-year-old sobs, “Mommy, my tummy hurts.” You reply that she’ll be OK as you feel her forehead and decide her temperature can’t possibly be above 102. You can still take her to daycare and get to your presentation.
But that’s not what happens, is it? You’ve got to get your baby back home. You know it, we all know it. Your presentation and the six clients who are coming to hear it are on hold. But, oh wait, you remember you have a loving husband who shares child care. That’s excellent! A solution to your immediate conflict – except he’s in Milwaukee for work.
Head slap when you finally remember Mom. Those pesky rules at daycare about not taking children with fevers are stupid, and besides, you’ve got your mother. She loves you and always comes through. “Mom, hi. Can you where? You’re where? In Bimini? How did this happen? I mean, why didn’t I know, Mom? Can you come home? Next week? OK, Mom, I love you.”
Surrender, take your feverish youngster home. Reschedule the meeting with your clients, and forget work for this day. Or have your assistant reschedule because she loves you, too. She’ll never tell you so (she just simply says that the known devil is better than the unknown devil. Hmmm).