Editor's Note: Lisa Newburger, L.I.S.W.-S./a.k.a. Diana Directive provides humorous ways to deal with difficult topics. Check out Diana’s webpage at www.discussdirectives.com.
I got that call…that dreaded call in the middle of the night.
“Diana, your mother has taken a turn for the worse. You must come now to Hillcrest Hospital.”
I was fuzzy from my lack of beauty sleep after waxing late last night. The last thing I wanted to do was go out in the middle of the night. What if someone saw me? I have a R-E-P-U-T-A-T-I-O-N to uphold.
“Can’t it wait until morning?”
“No, you need to come now.”
I climbed out of bed and jumped in the shower. Putting make up on at 3 a.m. was not a pleasant experience. My face was all puffy and bloated. What if I saw a really cute doctor? Then again, this could be the way to hook a doctor…having a middle of the night crisis could work in my favor.
Mom had been in an accident and was on machines. She had been doing better, but who knew what was happening now? I made my dramatic entrance into the hospital. Do you know that no one saw me get out of my convertible? I wore a really tight dress and there was no audience. What a waste! I started walking as fast as I could in spiked heels. I surely would capture someone’s attention, right? Instead, Ethan the intern came running over.
“Diana, your mom isn’t doing well. We had been trying to wean her from the breathing machine, but she has now gotten worse.”
Why is he telling me this?
“Diana, you need to make some decisions. How aggressive do you want us to be with her medical care?”
We headed into her room. I looked at her and didn’t know what to do. She looked so small and fragile. Somehow, I got through the night at her side. But at 9 a.m., my cell phone went off. It was Iris up at the office.
“Where are you Diana?”
I tried to explain what happened, but Iris wouldn’t listen. She told me to hightail it over to the dental practice as I had patients waiting for me. Mom was sleeping or in a coma or something. She wouldn’t know if I was there or not so I left.
When I got to the office, Iris smirked at me. She didn’t believe anything about what was going on with my mother.
“Talk to the hand Diana,” was her reply.
Is this how people are going to treat me? Are they resentful that I need to be with my mom and can’t get my work done? This isn’t my fault. I tried to follow her and explain, but she didn’t care. In the kitchen, she closed the door and turned on me.
“I am sick and tired of covering your patients Diana. You are a dental hygienist and need to start acting like one.”
I was floored. Who is she to talk this way to me? I didn’t say anything. What can I say? I am tired. I hate what is happening with my mom. I just wanted to go home, crawl into my bed and go to sleep.
Iris walked out and I broke down crying. I cried for my mom and for myself. I can deal with women who don’t like me, but I am doing the best I can. What am I going to do? I decided it was time to go and talk to the social worker up at the hospital. Normally, I think I am pretty tough. I am like Teflon — hurtful things bounce off of me. But Iris really hit a nerve. I need help. What do you do when you need help? Do you ever feel that your co-workers or boss don’t understand your situation? Email me at [email protected] and share with me how you deal with this in the workplace.
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