When my daughter Tracey was about 3 weeks old she was very sick. Up to that age, for her whole 3 weeks of life she kept throwing up her milk. Finally she was losing so much weight she had to go to Hamilton City to the Waikato Hospital, about 3 hours away.
I got a phone call at the start of my work shift from my wife that it had been agreed that Tracey must go to hospital as soon as possible, and she needed me to drive her and baby to the hospital immediately. I was worried that the Foreman would not let me go, but I was very worried about Tracey and her health.
The Foreman, up to this point, had given me the impression that he was a hard company man. And the night shift had only just started.
I went to see him, and tried to act mature, but while I asked him if I could take my wife and new born baby to Waikato Hospital tears started and my voice broke.
He said, “Go. This may be your work but never put work before your family, especially your children.” He gave me a short lecture about the importance of being there for our children, and that work means very little compared with those who we love.
I was very grateful. With tears coming down I thanked him. I realised also that I had read his character completely wrong, but I was very thankful for the surprise 🙂
All the best from James Martin Sandbrook.
Tuesday, 23 April 2019, 1:37:51 PM.