I work full-time and though our ever-evolving patchwork of childcare has worked well for us, it’s not a perfect system. Daycares close; sitters call out sick; there are meetings or deadlines my husband and I just can’t miss. Luckily, my partner and I work for the same parent company, and can at least tag team supervising our children if we need to bring them to work. As charming as this scenario seems, it also is less than ideal and usually leaves me with a few thoughts every mom has when she brings her toddler to work. (Hint: not all of them are positive.)
As a working mom, I’m constantly toggling between the caregiver side of my brain and the writer-producer side of my brain. Though studies have shown that working mothers tend to be more productive than child-free employees, it’s not because I’m multitasking (and I’ll never know why work culture celebrates the art of multitasking). For me, it means I’m doing many things at once, poorly.
That’s why taking my kids to work can be a recipe for disaster. Can I really do my job if my three-year-old is throwing a tantrum under my desk? Can I really be fully engaged with my child at lunch if I’m anxiously awaiting a commercial cut that needs my focus and feedback? The one good thing about having my kids at work is that I can show them what I do when I’m not with them. I value my professional skills and I work to help keep a roof over our heads, but I’m lucky enough to have a job I love that taps into my creative side. I want to demonstrate to my children how meaningful work can be, despite it being called “work.”
But the wonder and awe I see on their faces when they enter my office, with their artwork proudly displayed on my bulletin board, evaporates after the first 30 minutes. Then we’re just stuck with each other, in a cubicle, for the rest of the day. And though I may not say them, here are some thoughts this working mom has when I bring my toddler to the job: