You are just five minutes into your work when your mind starts wandering back home if your kid is sick or you forgot to give them their favorite toy. Yes, parents can relate to this really well. It is never easy!

Now, if sleepless nights and the stress about your kid’s health weren’t enough, your boss calls you in to “chat” and we all know what it’s about! You are expected to give an explanation about showing up 10 minutes late or leaving 15 minutes early. The reasons are plain and simple. The child’s meltdowns in the morning or an important game at kid’s school in the evening – it’s nothing complicated! This needs to be normalized.

The single dad and the president of Wunderman Chicago, Ian Sohn wrote a brilliant message on LinkedIn dedicated to all the parents who are managing work and home while being a mess themselves! His post got viral as everyone loved his way of expressing the struggle. His essay gained over 14,000 reactions and more than 500 comments came flooding in.

He made sure that his message connects with all the parents who are attempting to maintain this work-life balance. His words were extremely relieving as he wrote that no parent needs to give an answer about the break they want. They don’t owe an apology to anyone for trying their best at pleasing both sides.

His essay included some amazing instances. He wrote, “I never need to know you’ll be in late because of a dentist appointment. Or that you’re leaving early for your kid’s soccer game.”

He continued, “I never need to know why you can’t travel on a Sunday.” This man went on to share the experience that made him so understanding towards his employees. “Years ago a very senior colleague reacted with incredulity that I couldn’t fly on 12 hours notice because I had my kids that night (and I’m a single dad. edit: divorced)”, he wrote.

This single father had no guilt that day and that just annoyed his senior. Sohn describes it as a ”horrible” feeling and doesn’t want anyone else to go through it. That’s what made him pen down a note dedicated to working parents.

We think Sohn did the right thing here. He explained to people that they are not obliged to pick their work calls once they are home. It is absolutely fine to be present in one place instead of juggling between two and carrying the stress everywhere.

The post Single Dad Pens Down An Empathetic Message For All The Working Parents appeared first on Of Mum.