To think I and other people with commitments should get a medal

[GrrrrrreeeNotgreatactually]

Kids have an inset day and their dad is home and so for the first time (possibly ever) I am getting ready for work without having to get them ready for school, nursery, holiday club.
I'm actually bored. It's not time to leave yet. I'm dressed. I've even done a bit around the house. It makes me think of how easy this is, even for a serial procrastinator like me. So know I'm wondering about all my child free colleagues who roll their eyes when I come in frazzled, frizzy, five minutes late (I also stay late) and sometimes with someone else's toothpaste on me. Do they have any idea how easy it is to get yourself out of the house for work compared to getting other little two people out the door (who frankly aren't as motivated)? Do they not realise that those of us with kids/ caring responsibilities are not just wilfully blasé but that it's actually really fucking difficult to get somewhere (almost) on time without looking like you've been through tough mudder with an added sticky fingers obstacle?
I could do this every day.

Your choice; maybe get up earlier. No reason why colleagues should make concessions for you. (Speaking as a mother of twins who managed to arrive at my own school to teach in good time, having done a school run)

YABU

Erm, you chose to have children....?

Well you're gonna get a load of shitty replies about how wrong you're doing everything but I agree with you.

I agree, I remember a young male colleague mocking me once, first thing in the morning for walking into the wrong meeting room, along the lines that I was ditsy etc, annoyed the hell out of me, given everything I had already done that morning before I'd got to work.

YABVU.

Yeah, let’s pander to mother’s even more.
Nothing is a greater idea than shaming childfree/childless people.
hopefully you have some intelligence and awareness of the society around you, and have noticed there’s a huge stigma of not having or wanting children.

Honestly, your post is gross.

It is my absolute pleasure to award you a medal for self-inflicted martyrdom. May you wear it wearily.

Well, quite

This makes me think of an ex friend who thought those with children should start work later and finish earlier. But get paid for the full day 🤨. I asked how people with other caring responsibilities fitted into this and she wasn’t as forthcoming

Lol get a grip.

I mean it’s not their fault you chose to multiple kids?
You chose to make your life more difficult, you don’t then get a medal for that.

If I buy a massive house do I get a medal because I’ve more to clean? Poor people in smaller houses don’t realise how lucky they are and how easy they have it.

Does your husband also arrive late with toothpaste on him? If not perhaps he’s not doing enough with his commitments on a normal morning.

I speak the truth.
You can be as condescending as you want, but you know it’s true.

No, you shouldn't get a medal.

I agree it is really difficult - my kids are now older so I am past the age where it was hectic in the morning but I remember it clearly, but no one can expect extra recognition from colleagues because of the routine work that goes into having kids.

I do support flexible working arrangements in general, of course.

Come on, parents aren't the only people exceptions are made for! How often do you hear 'I can't make that meeting as I commute from (far away place here)' or ' I can't make that as it's my non working day' no one says 'move closer!' Or 'work full time'

Slow clap OP have a gold star and badge instead. Well done you 🙄.

OP, YANBU, as someone else has said, this is clearly a light hearted thread and some of the replies are bonkers!

It is hard work getting children ready and off to school. It is. Not hard enough work to regret having them but still hard work and I MARVEL at the teachers at my childrens school who are there at 7.30am and who have managed that with their own children.

This is Mumsnet.
You're maybe preaching to the converted.
I'd imagine every single person posting here has commitments. Most involving children and jobs.
You're not special. You just need to be more organized.
PS the toothpaste thing makes you sound a bit totes hilaire Bridget Jones meets Alison Pearson in the scummy yummy mummy trope.

How nasty.

Nowhere does the OP "shame" child free people.

YANBU. On the mornings I only have to get myself up and dressed I always notice how easy and relaxed it is.

And you sound so happy in your life and friendly!
🤔

Perhaps op should say this was ’light-hearted’ and they didn’t mean to be rude and entitled.

YABU - Presumably you chose to have children & there's no excuse for being late consistently I would roll my eyes if I were your colleague and it was constant
BUT
As a single parent I always marvel at how much time people have in the evenings after work when mine go to their dad's house in the school hols for a longer period. I start to get how people have a social life/spotless decluttered house/exercise regime etc (whilst sitting on my sofa watching trash telly & reading books 🤣😂) & same for mornings where some days I feel like I've done a days work before I login.

@PAFMO the toothpaste thing is just a reality quite often.

You’re right. We have someone who is always late. No kids, no caring responsibilities. Just can’t get up on time. Lord help her if she does have kids one day

I know what you mean. I drag myself in tired every day. One of my colleagues was shocked I got up at 6:15 to start at 9:30. And she has grown up kids.

Nobody I work with would dream of saying any of those things. You organise your travel etc around your job contract and your job contract specifies your responsibility. Surely?
If you are working for an organisation where people take the piss and don't do stuff because children/buses/free time then it just sounds a shitty organisation that needs to clarify expectations.