Comments on: Working Mothers Lie About Childcare

By: Work It, Mom! | A Community for Professional Moms

Work It, Mom! | A Community for Professional Moms — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:06:49 +0000

[...] couple of weeks ago, I wondered about working mothers who lie to their bosses about scheduling issues that come up because of child care problems — the [...]

By: MaryP

MaryP — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 18:38:35 +0000

Here’s an irony for you all: I am a child-care provider, and I’ve been known to fudge it about just why I need a half-day off…

I’m always aware that whenever I take an unexpected day off (as opposed to holidays which are booked 4 - 6 months in advance), I’m inconveniencing half a dozen families, and it feels like I need half a dozen reasons for doing it!

Like many of you, I have developed the strategy of giving less, not more information. Generally, that’s just fine. They’re not that interested in why - their focus immediately goes to the logistics of the problem I’ve presented them!

By: Florinda

Florinda — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:53:14 +0000

I’m usually pretty honest, and likely to tell more than I need to. I tend to think if my excuse is on behalf of someone else, it’s harder to challenge it - but I could be wrong. Fortunately, I work for a family-services agency, so in theory it’s a pretty understanding environment.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:21:26 +0000

I tend to be vague, not to hide anything, but, I’m pretty sure the people I work with don’t really care about the nitty gritty details.

By: PT-LawMom

PT-LawMom — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:43:29 +0000

I am really truthful but I know it hurts me because I see the way my boss reacts to other women who tell the truth. Men seem to be more vague and it works for them — they call in and say, “I’m working from home this morning and will be in at 10.” I think that works at an executive level, but it wouldn’t fly at my current (staff) level.

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:37:59 +0000

In general, I tend to be rather vague. ‘I will be in late on X date’ and leave it at that when a doctor’s appointment is required. And my boss and I have a great working relationship! If he pushed, asking if everything was ok, then I would tell him the truth. But my gut instinct is to NOT tell the truth when it comes to time away from work for family/child reasons. I never really realized it until you pointed that out. Thanks a lot! LOL

By: Nataly

Nataly — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:30:05 +0000

I have no boss - yeah!:) - but I find that sometimes I lie about why I am late for meetings or calls. I run a company for working moms, so I feel horrible when I perpetuate this practice, but sometimes, particularly when I am meeting with a man I don’t consider particularly family-friendly, I’ll say I got stuck in traffic or at a meeting when really, I was late dropping my daughter off to school because the particular pair of socks she wanted to wear was nowhere to be found.