Re: How do you cope ?
This is a tough situation JB but as AE said if you have any good neighbours that can pick or drop your children would be a good idea.Or in ZAfeerah's school they have a option that you can drop your children early in the morning for breakfast and they remain their for 30 or 45 minutes. And school offer after school programs till 5 pm in the meantime you can reach and pick your children.And in emergencies like your wife is having right now the best option is you can always talk to your children they are understanding and you know that children are very sensitive.So they might be thinking that their mom is in pain so they will not complain about it or if you have any closer friends where you can drop them.And one more thing find some babysitter in your area and tell her whenever we are going outside just come to our house and babysit our children for night they will charge 10$ an hour for that but they will do it for money.
P.S. Find about baby sitting options also usually some students or baby sitter mom charge between 8 to 10 $ an hour and they will pick your children from school and you can pick them later when you will be back from office.Since in North AMerica both parents work so there are lot of options after school programs,community programs,baby sitting it should not be a problem.When Zafeerah was in Kg I was not able to drop her I talked to a mom and she charged 6$ in the mornings and my husband used to drop her at 7 am in the morning at her house. Our nearest park community offer free 2 hour after school program because we are residents. So just go online or talk to some parents in the school INSHALLAH you will find lot of options, it should not be a problem in North America.