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.

@user55875537986543 As others have said, the shutting down of the OP making a lighthearted thread about getting out of the house reeks of spite and misogyny.

Can we stop calling everything misogyny? It’s not misogyny to disagree with someone just because they are a woman.

If OP had just ranted about how hard her mornings are as a mum I imagine she would have gotten more sympathy. The unnecessary bit to OPs post was essentially comparing her life everyone who doesn’t have kids and how comparatively easy their life is because of that, and how they don’t understand how hard her life is and they should be more aware of that otherwise they are merely ‘wilfully blasé’.

I used to work with a woman who was consistently 30-40 minutes late for work. No children/caring responsibilities at the time (trust me we’d know if she did), we were same age (early 20s). One day I asked her why she was always late and she said oh it is because I always need to hang out a load of washing or empty the dishwasher or something. I said could you not just do that after work or get up earlier and her reply was but I always get up at 7.30. She has had children now but I don’t work with her anymore, I’d love to know what she does now.

@luxxlisbon Getting out of the house when it’s just you IS easier than when it’s you plus children/people you care for and have responsibility for. It’s not a radical statement.

When my kids were younger, the people arriving late almost daily were child free. Whereas, because I was working condensed hours, I started earlier and was rarely late. There was a much bigger expectation on me to be on time as "you don't get to be late just because you have kids" attitude was prevalent.

Even now with flexible working, it tends to be child free colleagues who are regularly late at my work.

God you phrased this badly OP.

Maybe what you meant was “people who don’t have DC or other caring responsibilities shouldn’t be judgey if parents/carers arrive a bit late and a bit frazzled”.

If that’s what you actually meant then YANBU.

But a medal?? YABU, you know you are!

Well said!

I think everyone's being harsh with you OP. It's definitely a million times easier getting through the day without small kids. My DH sometimes takes our children away to see his family - my God, the difference is incredible! Everything is quiet, peaceful and runs smoothly. The house stays clean and tidy, I have time to make myself look presentable, I can leave for work in a relaxed fashion rather than spending 20 minutes telling the kids to "hurry up and get dressed, we're going to be late!!". It's a different world!

@MuraRocker - possibly if you consider set working hours to be flexible and try to assert authority over everyone She got away with it because she was a nightmare to speak to and our boss was a wet flannel who was scared of her.

This. Either there's a lot of angry people out there or a lot of trolls. Talking about it being difficult to leave the house with kids is not disgusting. It is okay not to think of the child free every single second on this forum which was set up for Mothers to share the difficulties of parenting. I think it's time for me to get off Mumsnet. It's changed a lot in the decade since I became a parent. Maybe that's a reflection of society as a whole.

Oh come on! If it was a thread about infertility or being childfree by choice or circumstances, I'd defend your right to talk about it or complain about parents who don't realise how difficult it is. But parents should equally be able to talk about struggling sometimes on a primarily parenting website.

of course parents should be able to talk about that. But isn’t it possible to do that wirhout having a go at childless/childfree people?

The nastiness isin’t coming from me.

YABU - what a ridiculous post.

You chose to have children, you just need to plan your time accordingly.

Other people without children will also have commitments such as hobbies, pets, relatives they care for, hell even being addicted to video games and they're all valid things to have to work around.

🎖have a medal for the most ridiculous post of the year

Absolutely agree, I can’t believe the vitriol towards a working mother. Surely as a society we want to encourage and support mothers to work while showing an element of empathy for the associated challenges of getting out of the house with little ones on time while trying to look presentable.
If members of this forum don’t like a post just move on. Bullying an OP for a perfectly acceptable post is madness (or trolling)!!

OP, it’s tough but just persevere as being employed has massive benefits and honestly it will get easier. Huge kudos to you (and every working mum) as it’s bloody hard going sometimes.

Hear hear 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

And do you think same of the comments that are rude to childfree/childless people?

There’s been really bitter, nasty, unnecessary coment towards them.

It doesn’t even have to be a child free morning, it works with even just one fewer child than you usually have. I have a one year old and a three year old and when I only have to get one of them ready, especially the eldest, I feel like I’m in a music video.

Completely agree

And women who ARE mothers. Are we not supposed to post?!

People can always hide posts they don't want to see for whatever reason. I have done it myself

OP wasn't having a go at childless or child free people she was saying she's amazed how much she gets done with the kids /getting out the door to work most mornings - and having a day off for once has made her consciously realise her achievement. She even mentions all other carers, as she says this achievement could well be noted and celebrated. By a medal. Which is obvs a joke.

Why is everyone so touchy about it?

It is a logistical operation similar feeling to a military operation at points!
Most of my colleagues are really good at understanding my line manager however doesn't get it at all! Times when I have had to use a childcare day due to a very ill child she texts and says I'm sure you can do your hours spread over the day or work next to them on your laptop rather then take a childcare day (which is paid!)......ummm no they are vomiting!

I remember my childless siblings asking me once what I did in my spare time. I was a single parent to 2 under 2 at the time, working, putting myself through college etc and I just was totally perplexed at the question.

Now the kids are older I understand but then when they were babies and I was working my arse off minding them, working to provide for them etc I just could not understand having any time outside of them.

It gets easier OP.

Want some salt and vinegar for that enormous chip in your shoulder?

You think this (quote from the OP)

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?

isn’t having a go at childless/childfree people?