Working and being a parent can be rather complicated. Many people have a hard time finding time for their job and also being present for their kids at various different events and things, as work can interfere with their “out of office” lives sometimes.
When this happens, many parents try to find ways around their schedules and even lean on other people to help them out when they can get it. However, not everyone is super happy to help—or, is available to help.
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One Reddit user recently opened up about a situation with a co-worker at her job who needed some time off.
The Reddit user said she is a married 36-year-old woman with no kids and doesn’t plan on having kids anytime soon.
She works with some people who do have kids and who oftentimes need some schedule changes at work. Recently, one of her co-workers approached her about a favor so she can attend her son’s soccer game.
While they work a 9-5 job, sometimes, things can run later.
With the Covid-19 pandemic making many things remote and virtual, the Reddit user says that there are many occasions where she will have a call or a task that will run after work hours. This can interfere with anyone’s life, especially parents.
No one wants to have to plan their lives around “after work hours” tasks.
The Reddit user’s co-worker had a call scheduled in the evening.
She received an email from her boss asking if “anyone could cover the call” for the co-worker. The co-worker then approached the Reddit user, asking her to take the call, so she can attend her son’s soccer game.
However, the Reddit user said no, because she had a volleyball game of her own that she would be playing in.
The co-worker said that the Reddit user should 100% give up her game to take the call.
The co-worker told the Reddit user that she should still take the call, because her son’s soccer game is for him, and the volleyball game is for the Reddit user—insinuating that her son’s game is more important than her own.
The Reddit user said that her priorities and her “outside of work” life is not “less important,” just because she doesn’t have kids.
The co-worker got angry.
Apparently, the co-worker scoffed and got angry with her, and now many people in their office are “gossiping” about the Reddit user, saying that she should have taken the call and they could not believe she was selfish enough to make the co-worker miss her son’s soccer game.
However, the Reddit user still thinks she was “in the right,” as she has covered for people prior.
She explained that she is “always respectful” and understanding of “working parents.”
The Reddit user said that she is always respectful and understanding that many parents have obligations outside of work. Like, an example she gave was that many co-workers oftentimes leave work early to pick their kids up from school.
And, sometimes they can’t take on big projects because they need to be around to do things for their kids.
The Reddit user inquired with the community if she was “wrong” for not taking the call.
Many people online said that she was “not wrong” for not taking the call. Some pointed out that the social stigma against women without kids is oftentimes just as bad as the stigma of working moms.
No one’s life is “more” important than anyone else, just because they have kids to take care of or look after.
Others agreed that parents aren’t “the end all, be all” of companies.
Others chimed in, even parents, who said that everyone’s life outside of work is important. It’s wrong to say that just because you have children you are “entitled” to special treatment and easier tasks/schedules because you have kids at home.
Having kids and working is a choice that many parents need to figure out and adapt to.
One Reddit user said things like “emergencies” are the only time this should matter.
Another Reddit user pointed out that the only time parents should ask for help or ask for favors is in the case of an emergency, like a hospital trip or a sick child.
A soccer game is “not an emergency” or “something to miss work over.” Kids will have more soccer games and they can attend another one.
Another said she “shouldn’t have said” what her business was.
Another Reddit user said that she wasn’t “wrong” for not taking the call, but she also shouldn’t have disclosed why she wasn’t taking the call. Her business is “her business” and she isn’t obligated to tell someone why they can’t do something. A simple, “no, I cannot” should be enough for people.
Life can be tricky to navigate sometimes, that’s for sure!
