Law Students

Being A Grownup Is Scary

By Andrea

Today was a day that reminded me that I am really a mother and a lawyer, and those are pretty powerful jobs. At work, something unfortunate happened in a case that I can't get into that was partly my fault, and I felt absolutely awful, even though I'm almost certain it's solveable. It was a reality check that I'm not a law student or an assistant or a clerk, I'm a lawyer. And I represent mostly less-educated people who don't speak English as a first language and rely heavily on me to do the right things for them. So I need to.

On the other hand, I usually do. I'm filing my first-ever petition for a writ of habeas corpus in district court next week (immediately after I get sworn in, a minor detail). Fun! Plus, I really may free someone who really needed an advocate. I saw him in jail today and he said to me, "I've been sleeping better at night now, because I know there is hope." Sniff.

Becca's also had a hard week, displaying what Dan called a "sampler platter" of symptoms including low-grade fever, fussiness, eating less, runny nose, and tiny cough. Oh, and poo issues. No details needed. It was probably a mild cold plus teething, but it wasn't that fun (props to Aunt Wendy for relieving us one day this week!). Then tonight Dan pulled off her shirt to find a weird pink rash all over her stomach and back, and although she didn't seem bothered by it at all, I got anxious and we called the doctor. As it turns out, she's got a textbook post-MMR-vaccine rash that 5% of kids get as a response to the live measles virus, and it's no big deal. But man, that "Something's wrong with my kid" feeling goes all the way down through your heels, doesn't it?

I'm usually a pretty together person - people remark on it sometimes, and sometimes I think, I guess I'm just fine with being a grownup. Today, though, I wouldn't have minded a substitute while I went to the park and watched cartoons.

Full post as published by Peanut Butter Burrito on April 24, 2009 (boomark / email).