With my boss threatening to fire me, I didn’t have another choice

“S

ure! Don’t lose your job over this. It’s my pleasure.”

Years later, Morah Penina’s words still reverberate in my mind, haunting me.

IT was June of 2021, and I was a mother of two pitzkelach, doing the same thing we’re all doing, trying to juggle work and raise a family.

My bechor, Meir, was three and a half; my daughter Tirtzah was two. They were signed up for daycare for the coming school year, with the morahs located three houses apart from each other. Meir’s daycare ended at 3 p.m. sharp, while Tirtzah’s daycare — run by Morah Penina — ended at 3:15 p.m. Problem was, my workday ended at 3:15 p.m. How was I supposed to pick them up on time?

I hesitantly approached my boss to ask if I could cut back my hours and leave at 2:50 p.m. His response was immediate and firm: “Either you stay until 3:15 p.m. or there’s no job. I’ll have to let you go.”

My first call was to Morah Penina, one of the nicest people I know. I explained my predicament. “If I end at 3:15 p.m., the soonest I can get to you is at 3:22 p.m., and that’s with no traffic. Is it okay if I come that late?”

“Sure! Don’t lose your job over this. It’s my pleasure.”

“You’re a lifesaver!” I replied. “Now I just have to speak to Meir’s morah about the 3 p.m. dismissal.”

“Why doesn’t Meir walk to me at 3 p.m. when he’s done and then you can pick up both kids from my house?”

“Are you serious?!” I replied. “You’re too nice!”

“Why not?” she said. “That way, you won’t have to rush to Meir’s pickup, and both kids will be here. Meir’s old enough to walk three doors down to my house every day. And since he was by me last year, he’ll feel totally comfortable. He’ll just knock on the gate, and I’ll open it for him.”

“You’re a tzadeikes. Thank you!” I felt like Morah Penina was a malach, a Heaven-sent messenger to help me in the juggle of life’s responsibilities.

Making it feel even more bashert was that Morah Penina needed someone to help with her morning carpool — and her daughter’s daycare was on my route. I was doing her a favor, and she was doing me a favor. Baruch Hashem, everything was working out so beautifully.