I had a message from my daughter's future school on my answering machine this weekend. They needed to reschedule our Kindergarten orientation meeting which we had set for a Thursday at 4:45 (the latest appt. they had).

When I called, I was informed that the latest appt. was now 3:45 on that day. I asked if there were later times on other days. Nope, but they are doing them on Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

I explained to the nice lady that my husband and I both work -- and, in fact, my husband works out of town, so I would need something later in the day if we were to attend.

She inquired whether I have parents or a babysitter who might be able to bring my daughter to orientation.

It was all I could do not to cry "ARE YOU SERIOUS?"

This is my daughter. My first one to go to school and hell or high water, I will be the one to take her to her Kindergarten orientation meeting.

So, now, we will be forced to take a half-day (or a whole day) of vacation to be there for our daughter.

It's just never easy for a working parent.

It called to mind an article a friend recently sent to me. It was written by Ruth Rosen from wwww.alternet.org entitled "Why Working Women Are Stuck in the 1950s":

A few choice excerpts (you can read the whole thing at http://www.alternet.org/story/48370/):

"For four decades, American women have entered the paid workforce -- on men's terms, not their own -- yet we have done precious little as a society ot restructure the workplace or family life.

"Conservatives typically blame the care crisis on the women's movement for creating the impossible ideal of 'having it all.' But, it was the women's magazines and writers, not feminists, who created the myth of the Superwoman. Feminists of the '60s and '70s knew they couldn't do it alone.

"A few decades later, America's working women feel burdened and exhausted, desperate for sleep and leisure, but they have made few collective protests for government-funded childcare or family-friendly workplace policies. As American corporations compete for profits, most workers hesitate to make waves for fear of losing their jobs.

"Many writers, activits and organizations have begun planning for a different future. If women really mattered, they ask, how would we change public policy and society? As one writer puts it, 'What would the brave new world look like if women could press reboot and rewrite all the rules."

Here's hoping that we find out -- in my lifetime -- and that my daughters have the tools they need to be everything they want to be.