Working Mummy; Week 2

9th November 2009 10 Comments

Week one didn’t go too well. Mummy felt depressed and stressed, housework piled up. There were two overtired children. Week Two and I am trying my hardest to keep an open mind about it all. The depression about the situation will pass, things can’t be that bad. They can’t REALLY expect that much of me can they?

This is how the day went

8.00; I’m still feeding the kids, well, trying and trying to get them to eat their breakfast.
8: 10; Might as well give up, I’m already running fifteen minutes late.
8:20; Get to the childminders both children, screaming and screaming. There is a toddler clinging to my leg for dear life. Weirdly, I think the following; “I wonder what her neighbours make of all this every morning”
8:30; Get into work, decide to make a cup of tea. OMG the sink, the worktops are filthy, the teaspoon cup holder has a layer of mould in the bottom of it. It suddenly sinks in that its probably unlikely that anyone has actually cleaned this area since I went off on maternity leave. Perhaps that explains my slight nagging tummy ache. I set about cleaning.
8:45; To work in the galleries, photographing objects.
8:50; Some scumbag has filled up the CF card on my work camera and not taken the pictures off.
9:00; Still looking for appropriate leads for my camera
9:30; Still looking for appropriate leads for MY WORK CAMERA
9:45; IT help desk call me and tell me they will call back about an issue
10:00; Team meeting
10:02; IT help desk call back
10:07; Back to my Team meeting. OFGS someone has actually gone and sat on my chair, can they not read my NAME that has been TIPPEXED on it for such occasions. Petty but necessary
11:00; Finally finish Team meeting. At which I was forced to STAND UP
11:01; Have to go to other museum for yet another meeting
11:15; Start another meeting
11:30; Childminder phones PANIC, baby Fifi is covered in rash. Phone the doctors, rush and take her straight there
11:50; Fifi has Scarletina. She can’t mix with other babies
12:00; Drag Fifi into work and work in the galleries

Repeat above scenario at least once more swopping a few names/ children/ adults.
5:10; Appear home, bedraggled and somewhat exhausted
6:00; Go to the supermarket to obtain food

blah, blah, blah, blah

So, in summary if anyone knows how I can:
A) Fit a few extra hours into the day
B) Go to work and avoid meetings, colleagues and all else in order to enable me to actually do some work
C) Keep a child healthy and free from germs and disease
D) Not suffer from stress or depression because of all this

I will be very happy….

Claire Walsh

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10 Comments

  • Mum's Survival Guide 9th November 2009 at 8:17 pm

    I hope it gets easier for you soon.

  • NML/Natalie 9th November 2009 at 8:29 pm

    Ah jaysus, that sounds like a hell of a time – couldn't help but laugh at you tippexing your seat! I really feel for you. It sounds like you need to turn up the music very loud and develop temporary Tourette's 😉 Big hugs xx

  • Metropolitan Mum 9th November 2009 at 9:53 pm

    Prozac in the morning, cocaine during the day and valium for the night. Et voila, problem solved.<br><br>Hang in there, it&#39;s gonna get better. (Don&#39;t know if this is actually true, but that&#39;s what they keep telling me.)

  • Jennysnail 9th November 2009 at 10:02 pm

    Oh dear there isn&#39;t an answer to this believe me I have tried and eventually decided working for myself was the solution. I recommend you use Tesco.com for the shopping and get it delivered. When a child is ill accept there is nothing you can do about it, take a day off without pay, use up a days holiday or ask grandparents to help out if they&#39;re not scared of catching it themselves.

  • Jennysnail 9th November 2009 at 10:05 pm

    I forgot to mention that to actually get work done I used to go in on a Sunday when no one else was there to bother me but not sure if this is possible in your job or if you&#39;d want to.

  • zooarchaeologist 10th November 2009 at 7:48 am

    Thanks for your comments, It must surely improve soon. However, I must say I particularly like Deborah&#39;s suggestion.., 🙂

  • TheMadHouse 10th November 2009 at 1:27 pm

    I guess that bloke called Sod has been at it again. Sprry, hope it is just a blip

  • Vic 10th November 2009 at 2:36 pm

    I&#39;d give up now, refuse to leave your desk and forget to tell the childminder useful info like Fifi not being allowed to mix with others. Denial is everything!

  • mummywhisperer 10th November 2009 at 6:00 pm

    Any chance the childminder could do breakfast? When I was dropping Max off at 8am, the nursery would feed him – takes a huge weight off.<br><br>Remember, that delegate/dump/do list- even the littlest things not done or passed to hubby might help.

  • cartside 10th November 2009 at 9:14 pm

    all the tips have been given. Our childminder does breakfast, lunch and dinner, so we&#39;re out within 15 mins (only one child admittedly). I shop during lunch hour or online (have Asda and Tesco&#39;s nearby lucky me). And hubby gets Cubling ready in the morning which helps. Oh and I&#39;ve no solution for endless, useless and going around in circles meetings and being interrupted by colleagues

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