Lifestyle Choices

`My mother-in-law crashed the car and I got a call about it at work, in the middle of an important meeting. I dropped everything and rushed home.’

Catherine, 39, senior secretary

`Louis being sick in our gift shop in front of two customers. Louis hiding my car keys in afiling cabinet while my back was turned, so I had to beg for a lift home and spent the whole day the next day searching for them.’

Angela, 35, buyer (for a charity)

`Having a serious business meeting while my two-year-old son had a tantrum with his father outside the office door— terrible!’
Ann, 41, chartered accountant

`I am about to embark upon it: my mother-in-law (chief helper) is about to go into hospital for two new knee replacements. The following month my senior therapist goes on holiday for three weeks and one of my junior therapists is leaving and as yet I have not found a suitable replacement. My salon is open 9 am to 9 pm seven days a week and I will be on my own.’

Wendy, 36, beauty therapist

‘Between childminders I had to bring my two-month-old baby in to work with me. It was a nightmare. I even changed her nappy on the conference room table and she had to attend a

meeting with Me. NEVEPR/ma

Jane, 35, rketing manager

`Coping with the trauma of divorce and having to continue to work, as well as bringing up as child.’

Lesley, 4o, photogpher/book-keeper

`Having to try to get home when there wasn’t a train for five hours. When I told my boss, and bearing in mind that it was the first time this had happened in five years, all he said was: “What are you going to do about making up the lost time?” I was fuming. Luckily, another colleague drove me l00 miles to the next station, and I’d already put in more than sufficient hours at that stage’

Di, 3o, quality control supervisor

`When I phoned home and my 12- and 14-year-old sons were fighting because a gd hurt the pet mice while they were racing them. My friend gave them the train fare and they met me at work’

Claire, 36, social worker

`When my ex-husband walked out with no notice after 10 years. I got home from my day job at 2 pm to find a note to say that he’d gone into town, so I had to cancel my night work and my boss wasn’t very pleased. I didn’t know how long my husband would be gone; in fact, he never came back. I tracked him down three days later. He had just turned up on his ex_ girlfriend’s doorstep and she had taken him in!’

Caroline, 35, take-away manager

`Being in the middle of a complex medical procedure that I can’t leave and being bleeped by someone telling me that Cassie is unwell: I got a phone call at 2 am from my husband saying Cassie was ill and I was in the process of delivering a still birth. The sister in charge was an unsympathetic (single) older woman.’
Stephanie, 31, midwife

`Having three hours sleep and doing a major presentation.’ Caroline, 31, corporate PR manager

`Emma was born on the day we had a wedding. I went into labour at 8 am on the Saturday morning and we went to the hospital and called the community midwife. Fortunately, my labours are nice and quick and Emma was born at 11.40 am — just in time for me to have a shower before Roy had to go in order to get to the bride’s home for 1 pm. If Emma hadn’t made it before midday, Roy would have left me and my best friend would have taken over. I would have felt very guilty if Roy had missed the birth as it was very important for him to be therefor all three. I accepted the booking as I was convinced that Emma was not going to be born on a Saturday afternoon. She made it. Roy picked me up at 5 pm the same day and we went home to be with the boys.’

Pam, 32, wedding photographer

`I once took my daughter to work with me and she became ill. My husband was at work and could not be contacted; my mother was away. I couldn’t close the kennels until 6 pm because I was working on my own, and had lots of dogs and cats to clean out, exercise, feed, and a sick three-year-old to look after in the middle of winter, outside in the cold. Not easy.’

Caroline, 32, kennels & cattery proprietor

‘My 14-year-old son was alone at home and telephoned me at work in tears, feeling really ill. I was a two-hour journey away.’
Deborah, 36, freelance journalist

`Being in court giving evidence on behalf of a client and being handed a note by the usher saying that my child had been admitted to hospital. I read the note, explained that I had a very serious personal domestic crisis and asked if the court would please ask me any relevant questions immediately or ask for an adjournment, if they felt it more appropriate. The court was sympathetic.’

Charlotte, 50, probation officer

`All three of my children got chickenpox, one after the other! And I had to stay at home.’

Karen, 35, video editor/student

My three-year-old shut his fingers in a fire door. I was told that if the office was left unmanned, I would be fired. I had to wait for someone to cover for me until I could go to the hospital‘
Jayne, 38, estate agent

`It’s not the emergencies that give me problems. It’s the “grey-area situations” like Alex being away on business, the kids being bored at home, the in-laws wanting a break and a deadline looming. Do I hang the deadline, take some leave and take the children and the in-laws to the seaside? Or do I press on, facing the children’s complaints daily and the in-laws’ moans, all on my own?’

Kwen, 35, psychologist

Tips for Dealing with EMERGENCIES

1. . DON’T PANIC!
2. Make a list of people (with their consent) who can and will help in an emergency and keep their numbers with you at all times.
3. Have contingency plans. If you don’t shirk at other times, you might find your employer more willing to be helpful.
4. Try to lessen the effects of emergencies by working near home or having a standby carer if possible.
5. Be honest and professional but do not feel guilty. Your colleagues all have emergencies at some time or another.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from family/ friends/ workmates.
7. Children are stronger than you give them credit for. Explain what is going on.
8. Try to keep a week’s holiday available to be taken at short notice.
9. Remember that no one is indispensable at work, but you’re the only mother that your child has.
10. When the dust has settled, down a stiff drink!

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