Signs of a Working Parent

A week or so ago, I sat down to a meeting for my professional organization at a nice restaurannt.  I looked down at my hands and immediately put them in my lap.  There were Oreo cookies under my fingernails!  You see, I had just left Cadence's class where I read them the story "Diary of a Worm."  After the book, I made them a 'dirt and worms' treat using chocolate pudding, gummy worms and crumbled Oreos, the evidence of which still remained on my poor hands.  I quickly excused myself to the restroom to wash my hands.  While washing, I thought of several other things that have happened to either Chris or I that remind us, and the world, that we are working parents.

Here are a few:

• I've had a pacifier fall out of my pocket in the middle of a conference room full of attorneys.
• A shirt and tie is normal apparel for Chris when coaching our 4-year-old’s soccer team.
• I've walked into an office meeting singing “fruit salad…” to myself, only to have someone respond “yummy yummy!”
• I've had to stop court hearings to take a 15 minute pump break in the empty visiting judge chambers.
• My designer diaper bag now functions as my brief case.
• My 8-year-old has been on a “field trip” with me to serve a subpoena.

I'm sure there are more, but that is all I can think of right now as I've probably blocked the rest out or forgotten them due to lack of space in the 'remembering' section of my brain with all of the PTA meetings, court schedules, soccer practice schedules, work deadlines, birthday parties and professional meetings I have stored up there.