We were a typical urban couple living in a cool brownstone in the city (Chicago) and in, just a wee bit, over our heads. Not to say that we were living beyond our means but we were certainly living at the edge of them. We both made decent livings but how do you begin to figure out finances without one major income and not wanting to give up city living quite yet? We were the first of our friends to have a kid and everyone lived in the neighborhood just right around the corner. This became our challenge as we plotted, planned, and prayed for the answer which would allow one of us to stay home with our little preshy...preferably me!
My first day back was a typical Chicago winter day...lots of snow. I worked in the 'burbs so I had a hike ahead of me and knew it would be slow going. I begged my husband to drop off our SIX WEEK OLD baby for her first day at the sitter. I knew I would never be able to do it (BTW he took her for the whole first week as I chickened out everyday). Heartbreaking!
I was still in the neighborhood, hadn't even made it to the highway, and the streets were much more slippery than I thought. I coasted up to a stop sign and slid halfway though it. Looking from left to right and seeing no one (or so I thought), I made the decision to continue my slide and keep going. Woot, woot, woot! Flashing lights! Damn it, a sneaky cop was right there.
I rolled down my window, slapped a big smile on my face and began to work my way out of this one. Chicago cops don't like excuse even when I explained it was my first day back to work after having a baby just 6 short weeks ago. His comment was, "Then don't you think you should be more careful?". There wasn't another car in site! So, not only was I going to be late for work, I would have to pay a fine and attend traffic school in order to fulfill my debt to the City of Chicago.
I didn't have the time or the money for either plus I had to explain this one to my very careful husband who never gets tickets, blah, blah, blah!!! All I wanted to do was play with my baby and probably cry.
The Prompts:
1.) Return to work after baby was born or stay home? How did you make your decision?
I would have been bawling to the cop! I was so tired when I had to go back to work. Being pulled over would have put me over the edge.
ReplyDeleteI probably cried after I tried to talk myself out of it. Chicago cops are brutal. They don't care! It was a big indication of how my re-entry to work was headed. That's for reading!
DeleteOh, what a horrible way to start an already horrible day!! I'm from south Texas so I've never driven in ice or snow, but surely the officer could have been understanding about the whole thing!
ReplyDeleteNot the Chicago kind. They are rule followers and ticketers!!! I have talked my way out of many, many tickets but never within the city limits. Maybe I should just try to be a better driver!
DeleteMy husband had to take daughter to daycare when she went. The irony of this is that whenever I took her, she was therefore totally cool with being dropped off, but when HE took her she screamed until long after he was gone.
ReplyDeleteThat's crazy. So glad she didn't cry for you...easier that way.
DeleteWe only had one car, at the time, and my husband was off first so he was in charge of pick up everyday. We bought a bike seat so he could ride over to the sitter, strap her in and bike home. She ALWAYS cried in the bike seat. What kid doesn't like a ride? (maybe she was a little young) My husband was embarrassed to have a screaming kid on the back of his bike everyday.
Half my family is from Chicago so I grew up with lots of stories and more than a few included Chicago cops.
ReplyDeleteWhen my kids were really little I was able to support all of us on my salary which was good because I don't know that I could have done daycare then.
The first few days of school were much harder for me than I ever could have or would have guessed.
Yes, those cops are everywhere and mean!
DeleteYour family was very lucky to be in the position of NOT having to make the decision. It's torture.
I agree about school. The first was easy to send, she was ready and I had another one still at home but when the baby went to kindergarten his tears almost made me scoop him up and say "let's try again tomorrow" for both of our sakes. Thank God for the awesome Mrs. Warner who took him off my leg and guided him away with a smile.
Brave Mama!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do to get by until you figure out a different way.
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