Deadlines Killing this Working Mom

The creative agency we're using for our online ads sucks-- we're going on 5 days past due on materials.  Our creative director is out at a press check, the guy who used to work for me quit and my 3 year old is sick again!  (Barf at breakfast is always fun.)  It's 6:20 and I promised to be home in time for dinner, but I'm still waiting for materials to review, I'm just about to pack up to leave when we get a call from our attorney about another set of materials on the brink of being overdue.  What do I do-- stay or go?  Like an idiot I stayed until about 7:15 and finally walked out of the conference call feeling guilty for leaving and worse for staying!   

Situations like mine, I'm sure, are occurring at every job site on a daily basis. WoMos are forced into a chose between work and family, but when it comes down to it, it shouldn't really be a dilemma, it's family first.  So why is it so hard to make this a reality?  I think it's a classic case of women overcompensating to prove themselves competent and capable of their jobs.  

I know I feel like I have to go the beyond the extra mile to prove that being a mom hasn't impacted my job performance.  That somehow taking calls from the agency at 10p and looking at artwork at midnight will compensate for the times I'm late to the office because of school drop offs and the times I take off to have fun with the kids, go to teacher meetings, and clean up barf.  The thing is, I don't think my office cares if I take vacation days or if I'm late.  

I think I just need to acknowledge the fact that being a mom has impacted my job performance and it's ok.  Being a mom has also enriched my life beyond belief, so as of today I'm cutting myself some slack and trying to take the foot off the gas a bit to enjoy my family a little more and work a lot less.  Wish me luck...