NOTE: This column was written on Sept. 19, after picking my son up from his half day at school and bringing him to my office for part of the afternoon. If you need a quick laugh, watch the video above to hear my son sing an old "98 Degrees" song to me last year!

As I write this column, my 6-year-old son Dylan is with me at work, whining next to my desk.

He’s hungry, bored, filled with energy and wanting every ounce of my attention.

As a working mom, I feel guilty as hell.

Today, Dylan had a half day at school.

Unbeknownst to many of the parents – myself included - after care was canceled.

Oops.

It’s definitely my fault for not looking into that part in a more timely manner, but regardless of who’s to blame for what, half days at school are a working parent’s nightmare.

Where will I put my kid?

What will I do about work?

Can I coordinate my lunch break to sit in the pick-up line or get him from the bus stop?

Do I have vacation hours to take off the rest of the day?

Can I bring him back to work with me and, if that is an option, risk the looks of resentment from disapproving co-workers?

These are some of the many questions that race through our minds as we schedule meetings in Microsoft Outlook, while mentally meal planning and mapping out the weekly schedule of after-school activities.

But I'm one of the lucky ones

Long story short, half days are among the many difficult situations that working parents are faced with on a regular basis.

But I’m one of the lucky ones.

I am beyond blessed to have a job that allows flexibility in my schedule and the occasional afternoons of bringing my son to the office when I’m in a bind.

But how about the parents who work in retail, food service, health care or any industry where flexibility is not an option?

I don’t know how they swing half days, sick days, last-minute closures or any of the other “life happenings” that add an additional crimp to the already difficult work-life balancing act.

As a parent, I spend a lot of time thinking and reading about the great debate between “working moms” and “stay-at-home moms," especially since I’ve been on both ends of the spectrum.

For my son’s first year, I was a married mom without a job.

For the next four years, I was a working mom without a husband.

Now, for the first time ever, I am a working mother with a school-aged child and a husband who works full time as well.

So where do I stand on the “great debate?”

It’s not an easy answer to explain.

I grew up with a stay-at-home-mom, and it was awesome having her around for all the summers, drop-offs, pick-ups, half days, snow days (I’m from New Jersey), sick days, class parties, after-school activities and unplanned hiccups in our normal routine.

Looking back, it really was a privilege having her there for all the “major” things that seemed so minor to me at the time.

The scariest day of my life as a mom

As a working mother, part of me is jealous that I can’t be there for my son in those moments.

I’m envious of the moms who get to spend so many more hours with their kids each day than I do, even in those moments when I want to rip my hair out from yelling "no, Dylan!" so much.

Sometimes, I wish that I could wake up, throw on a sweat shirt and drive my son to school, with no sense of urgency to make my 8:30 a.m. meeting, “dressed for success” and ready to tackle the work world – especially on days when Dylan (and I) have shed multiple tears before getting in the car (you’ve been there, too …).

It would be nice to have the option of tackling that pile of dishes, shopping list, load of laundry or dirty bathroom before walking in the door after 12 hours of being gone. Because when you work outside the home, the work inside the home doesn’t just do itself (although that would be awesome).

Truth is, just having the choice of not going to work would be pretty amazing. But realistically, that’s not an option because life is very expensive.

Thankfully, I have an amazing career at which I thrive – and love.

When I spent that one year as a stay-at-home mom, I tried to appreciate all the things that I knew wouldn’t last forever.

I will say, however, that I found myself feeling jealous back then, too - just like today, when Dylan’s half day at school “interrupted” the work-life balance and I had to drag him to my office for hours.

But my jealousy was for a different reason.

I remember one morning, when Dylan was a few months old, I was pushing his stroller through the halls at my apartment, trying to get him down for a nap.

I was that mom – the one I described above - wearing the sweat shirt, drinking my coffee, with nothing on my Outlook calendar besides diaper changes, feedings and housework.

A woman walked passed me, briefcase in hand, “dressed for success” while taking a work call and rushing out the door.

Looking down at myself – a complete hot mess in the hallway – I stopped dead in my tracks.

I had this beautiful baby who I finally got after struggling with infertility and miscarriage.

I was blessed to be staying at home, something I always wished for, and I could literally dedicate my entire life to being a mom.

But still, I was jealous.

I missed being able to refer to “my job” or celebrating a success at work - and I never in a million years expected to feel this way. It was crazy.

Practicing the balancing act

Fast forward six years.

It’s 4:33 on a Wednesday afternoon and I’m sitting at my office, in my work clothes, while my son plays on the rug in the break room, repeatedly asking “how many minutes” he has been here today.

The storm of the “half day” is passing.

My work is wrapping up, and I am getting ready to switch into my “stay-at-home mom” uniform (aka yoga pants) for homework, housework, dinner, bath time and bed.

This all starts after putting in a 10-hour day outside the house.

I'm so grateful for all my blessings - but juggling everything can be stressful ... and exhausting.

I guess it’s true that the grass always seems greener when you’re on the other side of the fence, getting just a glimpse of what you think you’re missing out on.

Maybe the secret is finding that “sweet spot” somewhere in the middle.

Thankfully, I have several years – and lots of half days - ahead of me as a working mom to figure it all out.

For now, I’ll just keep practicing the balancing act, just like we all try to do each day.