In Portland, summer typically doesn’t kick off until after the Fourth of July. However, this year, the season burst forth unexpectedly, bringing with it sweltering temperatures in the mid-90s by mid-June. Normally, I would relish the sunshine in a region known for its rain, but this particular week was different—my partner was overseas for work, leaving me to juggle a rambunctious 100-pound Labrador and an active 16-month-old while managing my full-time job at a Fortune 500 company.
I’ve navigated solo parenting during his trips before, so I felt confident I could handle this latest challenge. The heat was daunting, but my daughter’s room was equipped with a portable AC unit, and I was fine with a little sweat. Yet, when she woke up at 1 a.m. on the second night and refused to settle down, I realized we were in for a rough ride. I brought her to bed with me, where the temperature hovered at a humid 85 degrees. Neither of us slept well, tossing and turning through the oppressive June heat. I think she finally dozed off around 5 a.m., allowing me a brief window to sneak in a workout—until she woke up just 20 minutes into my routine.
Hoping for a few more precious moments of solitude, I gathered us all, including our panting dog, into the bathroom for a quick shower. I had an important offsite presentation that day, and while I aimed to look polished with straightened hair, reality dictated otherwise—curly, unwashed hair it was.
As I sat on the floor, half-dressed from the shower and playing with my daughter, my partner FaceTimed us from Europe. “Hey, check it out! It’s the Berlin Wall. We had some free time today, so I’m exploring,” he said, clearly enjoying his adventure. I tried to focus on the significance of the moment while simultaneously prying tampons out of my daughter’s mouth. Just then, our dog started to vomit. I dropped the phone, rushed outside with the dog, and shouted his name while my daughter cried, sensing my distress. My partner was likely still on the line, thousands of miles away, witnessing my chaotic morning unfold.
Eventually, I managed to get everyone into the car when my partner called back. “How’s it going?” he asked. Although I pride myself on being strong and capable, the combination of heat and chaos was overwhelming. I broke down, muttering, “The dog, the heat…”
“What can I do?” he inquired. I glanced at the clock, realizing I was on the brink of being late for my presentation while still needing to drop my daughter off at daycare. “Could your parents come over and install an AC unit?” I suggested.
At 8:55 a.m., as I pulled into the parking lot for my offsite—arriving late for the 8:30 breakfast—I received a text from my father-in-law asking what type of AC unit I wanted. I was trying to respond while wandering around a golf course looking for my team meeting. I stumbled into the appropriate room at 8:59, the last to arrive. The only available seat was next to the vice president, and it was evident everyone had been waiting for me. I quickly sat down, pulled out my laptop, and attempted to transition from frazzled mom to professional.
My phone buzzed with questions from my father-in-law and texts from my partner checking in. I apologized to the VP, who kindly asked if I needed a moment to step outside and regroup. Thanking him, I declined, striving to appear somewhat composed. However, my morning antics had drawn attention, and before long, I found myself recounting the chaotic details of my morning, probably solidifying my reputation as the “crazy mom” within the team.
The remainder of the day was relatively uneventful. I delivered my presentation and picked up my daughter, and thanks to my wonderful in-laws, I returned to a pleasantly cool home. The following morning, my boss, who also happened to be a mom, asked how my day went. I eagerly shared my story, and as I recounted the events, tears of laughter streamed down her face. “I’m not laughing at you,” she assured me. “I’ve been there too.”
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In summary, the day was a whirlwind of unexpected challenges, but I emerged on the other side with a funny story and an understanding boss. It was a vivid reminder that even amidst chaos, there can be laughter and camaraderie in the parenting journey.
Keyphrase: Berlin Wall parenting chaos
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