Linda's blog: Dropping the Ball

I was in a meeting when my phone started vibrating and I saw the dreaded words "School Office" flash up.  Any parent will recognise the palpable fear that rushes through your body when that call comes in.  I made my excuses and, with my heart in my mouth, phoned back.

In the scheme of possible emergencies, it wasn't bad.  My 8 year old didn't have any sports kit for a football match: could I "just pop in and drop it off?"

I was in the office (however many times I tell school my husband works at home more than me, they always phone mum first) and so was my husband. My mind raced rapidly through the options. Could I "just" take two tubes and a train home, pick up the kit, take another tube to school and yet another two back to work, by moving meetings?  Could I get someone to stand in for me?  Could my husband do any of the above?

In a word, no.

Despite the fact I was acutely aware of the embarrassment it would case, I asked if the receptionist could dig some kit out of the lost property box but we ultimately agreed there wasn't much point without trainers.  I stopped trying to solve the problem and braced myself for a miserable child that evening.

She probably wouldn't have been so upset had it not been the second fail of the week.  Only a few days earlier we'd missed jeans for genes day.  Despite the note in both our calendars and email reminders from school, our daughter was wearing school uniform.

And then, to make matters worse, only 48 hours later I had another call from school because the same daughter didn't have a swimming costume.  I couldn't solve that one either.

To top it off, we missed the email asking children to wear yellow for World Mental Health Day.  The irony that this succession of failures is not good for my own mental health is not lost on me.  Dropping the ball four times in 10 days isn't great for anyone's self esteem.  We are generally on it so it's a shock to find ourselves with a parent report card that says "could do better".

The truth is, juggling work and home is hard.  We owe it to our fellow working parents to be honest.  Add in ageing parents and there is a lot going on.  It has taken me many years but I have now reconciled myself to the fact that some things will inevitably be missed.

Hopefully it won't be the big things and hopefully normal service will resume soon.  Ultimately, our daughter is fine.  Your children will also be fine.  Let's remember that as we pick up the ball and move on.

Linda is a lawyer who has two children aged 11 and 7. She and her husband work full time and juggle the school run and everything else between them.

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• Families