Right now I am supposed to be eating breakfast and waiting for my leadership program to begin. But I am not in DC. I am in my cube in NH. I made the decision not to go on Sunday. Originally I had planned on flying out last night and flying back on Wednesday morning. There are two two things that factored into my decision.
1. Sammy's surgery was moved to today. And even though I will be up here and not in the hospital I feel better being only an hour away.
2. Keegan is having a hard time. The switching back and forth so much last week and this weekend took it's toll. He had difficult transitions and was stressed. Other people may not have been able to tell but I'm his momma. I know him and I know when he isn't right. Since I got him back on Sunday he has been doing much bettter and is not anxious any more. I know I made the right choice.
Up until three years ago I would have put my professional life first. I would have made decisions solely based on the opportunity to learn and the path to moving up. While I still would have loved to go and I certainly am invested in my career, family comes first. People who need me come first. The lessons of surviving my divorce are not lost on me.
http://www.fillorburst.com/mt-tb.cgi/1025
I know exactly what you mean. I feel like I should be in DC this week, but I too have obligations here...even though one of them is work. Notice how I am still procrastinating?
I think you made the right decision for your son and for your friends and their new little one. Keeping them in my thoughts today...
You did absolutely the right thing. Even us career Moms have to pick and choose sometimes. These conference/meeting opportunities come along fairly frequently. You will go again another time. We cannot do it all. Your priorities are well placed and will come back to benefit your family, you, and even your career many times over !
There are moments when I look at my life and think, "When the hell did I become an ADULT?" We do it without even realizing it. We start to make choices not only for ourselves, but for those we love-we start to see that we have an impact on others besides ourselves, and we adjust accordingly. You did a very good thing by staying home...conferences are a dime a dozen, and sticking close to home for Keegan (and for Erika and Jay) is something that I'm sure means the world to all of them-even if Keegan and Sammy are too little to express that to you).
You're a good mama, and a good friend.