Those were the words of a frantic mother in despair. The problem: a missing child who happens to be a litigation associate with billable hour requirements.

My mother’s solution: Call every number she has associated with me, brave the Internet and attempt a G-chat and e-mail search. She even sent a message to my tech-savvy little sister to have her get in touch with me. My sister lives in Paris and is on a 6-hour time difference, but that would not thwart a mother in need of her child.

When my mom finally reached me, I asked her what she needed. “Oh nothing, your father and I haven’t seen you in a few days and we just wanted to make sure you were still alive.”

“Yes, Mom. I am still alive,” was my perplexed response.

She sent out an international APB on me for nothing more than what equated to a “pulse-check.” She just needed proof I was still breathing and not rotting under boxes of documents dropped on me by a partner. I have to laugh and smile at her concern.

We live in the same city and with her other child out of the country, I have kind of assumed the role of doting daughter. However, when work ramps up and I get busy, I am not able to make the trips to their house for dinner or stop by during the week. I am close with my family and we usually check in with each other often. Even though I am an adult, the protective parenting never stops.

I can imagine what it is like for married associates to try to balance work and husband/children. While I am not a mother, I struggle to balance work and parents. Neither of my parents are lawyers so I have to explain how billing works and how my work hours are really varied depending on the complexity of the case.

I think my mom had a small case of separation anxiety.  In my other career (retail), I was always available to discuss something with her or able to get back to her very quickly. As an associate, my schedule is not always my own and sometimes I am at the mercy of a partner’s demands. Trying to explain why I had my work blackberry at her birthday dinner was an exercise in futility. My father, who understood completely, was laughing hysterically as I tried to explain that the law is 24-7 and does not have set hours. It was a mother’s love and concern for her child that made me laugh instead of get frustrated.

We have to explain to our loved ones and friends how our work may be different from other jobs and professions. Those that miss us and truly care for us will bug us about our “availability” or will question where we have been if we “fall off the map” at times. I would rather have the search party coming than no one looking at all.

P.S. A short simple 140 characters or less txt message has alleviated the necessity for further drastic measures by my mother.

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