Look at that typewriter! Lovely. Thanks for sharing this, Scott. I drop my kiddo off at daycare each morning so I feel like I can relate to some of what you’ve described in the piece. This morning something that brought me some anxiety was how she said, “daddy, will you pick me up today? I want you to.”
My wife works until ~3 while I work until 5, and the daycare closes at 5, so my wife is the one to pick her up 99% of the time. You know--logistics.
But I of course was just like, “uh, how can I make this work? How can I be there for her? WHY can’t I be there for her? Why wouldn’t I be able to make this work? Why in our society do we force the schedules we do? Maybe I need to look for a new job, with more flexibility?”
Wonderful post, Scott. And OMG I saw the Judy Blume Forever trailer at the end --- I loved this documentary so much, bawled through much of it (I am a huge Judy Blume fan). Also bawled because (as I think you know) my covers are all the way through it. And my Simon & Schuster editor, Justin Chanda! I still haven't had a chance to see the movie version of ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET.
"Drop Off" is a very emotive and urgent piece. The fear and protection and love for your child are conveyed so poignantly!
Look at that typewriter! Lovely. Thanks for sharing this, Scott. I drop my kiddo off at daycare each morning so I feel like I can relate to some of what you’ve described in the piece. This morning something that brought me some anxiety was how she said, “daddy, will you pick me up today? I want you to.”
My wife works until ~3 while I work until 5, and the daycare closes at 5, so my wife is the one to pick her up 99% of the time. You know--logistics.
But I of course was just like, “uh, how can I make this work? How can I be there for her? WHY can’t I be there for her? Why wouldn’t I be able to make this work? Why in our society do we force the schedules we do? Maybe I need to look for a new job, with more flexibility?”
And on and on.
Wonderful post, Scott. And OMG I saw the Judy Blume Forever trailer at the end --- I loved this documentary so much, bawled through much of it (I am a huge Judy Blume fan). Also bawled because (as I think you know) my covers are all the way through it. And my Simon & Schuster editor, Justin Chanda! I still haven't had a chance to see the movie version of ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET.