Between a Rock and a Paycheck

This past Monday I was in a dilemma that many parents and especially single parents find themselves in. I had a sick child and I found myself making the decision to either stay home or go to work. I have never experienced this predicament before and I really didn't appreciate that I felt a choice had to be made. Well here is the backstory. My one year work anniversary is coming up real soon and I can get a promotion and I was told by supervisor as long as I did not miss anymore days I was more than likely going to get it. Now mind you I think I have only missed 4 days the whole year so far. But anyhow my motherly instinct was to stay home but the provider in me said go to work.

My issue is that most companies always portray that they value family and it's a core value, but do they really? I feel that most corporations are more concerned about their bottom dollar. I know if I didn't go to work that day my employer still would of been open and the phones would of still got answered. Why should I be denied to opportunity to advance because I have a sick child, which is something I have no control over. As a single parent there are always tough decisions but what do you do when your job is one of the choices. I need my job to take care of my family but the health of my children is important to me also. I know from my personal experience and from the customers at my job that the working class is always making tough decisions daily. Pay rent or your electric bill, buy food or buy medicine. To be one of the richest country in the world we have no compassion for the least of U.S. Thankfully my oldest son did not have to work that day and he was able to stay with him. I am grateful he was there but what if he wasn't available. I would of missed a day of work and an opportunity to get a promotion.