Ellie

Once upon a time in a workplace, not so far away, there worked a childless girl and a child gifted girl.

The child gifted girl worked hard. She was hugely celebrated for the birth of her darling children. The workplace granted her lots of support both formally and informally. She got lots of parental leave. She was allowed to leave work to attend her children’s concert. She was allowed to pick her children up from school and bring them to the office in order to avoid childcare costs. She never had to make up any work time she missed doing these things. She was asked about her life with smiles and kindness.

The childless girl worked hard too. She often went above and beyond to complete tasks that were not part of her job description to help others. She was never celebrated. She was never allowed to leave early for her life events. She watched the children arrive at three each day. She cried in the bathroom every day as it was so difficult to watch other people enjoying their children. She had tried to have children. It just wasn’t possible for her. The grief was too much at times. She always worked late to make up for the crying time each day. Nobody asked her about her life.

One day she dared to ask for support. An empty office became available far away from the central area. Getting away from where the children gathered would make life so much easier for her. She asked her boss if she could move there. She explained the difficulties she was having with the children’s daily arrival. She was brave and vulnerable. He shuffled papers on his desk. His face showed anger and he ignored her. Eventually she took the hint and left his office. Later she received an email telling her that such things were not his concern.

The child gifted girl lived happily ever after, supported and accommodated in her workplace. The childless girl still cries in the bathroom every day; broken hearted, grieving and unsupported.