The cheerful Bryna I know isn’t here for a usual catch-up

T

he energy of a successful morning routine still pulses through my veins as I inspect the row of hooks, now empty of coats and backpacks — a temporary reprieve before the brood piles back in. In those few hours, with the donning of a smart blazer, fixed-up wig, and the swift turn of my home office doorknob, I seamlessly transform from busy mom to confident career woman.

It’s the thick of winter, with flu season colliding with PTA meetings and work deadlines. This morning, I’d managed to get every kid to school on time, with a healthy lunch and signed homework, while raspy voices in my head staged a heated debate over the merits of sending my nine-year-old, who’s still recovering from the flu. My inner critic, the school nurse, and unsolicited advice of nosy neighbors all joined the argument. Unsurprisingly, my boss’s voice won.

Pinny had spent too much time at home, and my work hours have been scarce lately, my performance subpar. I need to make up for it before my boss notices. And with that touch of realism, my guilt is temporarily stored away, replaced with a sense of empowerment.