Hope and heartache

[ClingingToHope]

Just venting here.

Dragged myself over to house to meet D10 on the bus. Took her into work to talk to boss about D7 having lice. Got a little work done. Joked with people about how you can't miss work even if you have surgery.

Then boss, who I like, tells me her superiors have noticed how much work I've been missing. It's true. I've been home a lot the last month because the girls keep getting sick. I've missed work because of the girls before, but the difference this time is that I haven't been all that productive when I have been at work with the home situation falling apart and people are noticing.

Still, I was a little indignant considering I've spent my recuperation day working on state school testing data for the newspaper -- I'm a reporter.

We worked it out. In the end, I told her I'm in a better frame of mind about the M and eventual D and should begin writing more stuff. But I am in a tough spot with the kids because the W is so focused on her job, she'll sacrifice me and the kids if necessary. I told her about the day W, rather than taking off work, left a 10 year old home alone.

So the boss understands my dilemma. I'm still good there.

I go to the house to get D10's swimming stuff. W is there with lice stuff and is getting ready to wash D7's hair. I tell her I was chastised for missing so much work. She said she knows, but then she starts saying, well, you haven't missed that much. One day two weeks ago, a halfday last week, a halfday this week.

I've missed more than that and she's missed 1 1/2 so far. Still, it strikes me that I'm taking another day off tomorrow -- although I'll be writing a story for the newspaper and emailing it in and she will be working. And she hasn't said thank you. Not once so far this year.

Because of the surgery I'll let it slide. The next time they get sick though, I'm calling her on it. It does me no good if they get down on me at the paper. I'm in line for the next promotion if I don't blow it.