So I just got a call from my company's HR dept that I may have to travel about 250 miles to testify in a court case at the end of the month (UGH!!) Luckily it's in the same city where my sister lives, but I don't know what I'm going to do about LO. She will have to come with me because I'm still on mat leave and she is a BF baby who can't have formula (MSPI) and I don't have a very big freezer supply (since I'm not working, I don't really pump that often). Not to mention we don't have anyone to watch her while I'm gone because everybody works. So what do I do if I'm in court all day waiting to be called for my 2 minute piece? Can you bring your baby with you? I'm totally at a loss!!
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Is there any way around testifying? I'm surprised your HR department is even able to ask you to do this (considering you are on maternity leave, you have to travel to another city, and you don't have child care readily available).
If you have to testify, pump as much as you can to build up a freezer stash, so you could be away from LO for the day if needed.
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@Bluebonnet: I don't think I have a choice, if I'm named as a witness I have to appear regardless of my employment status.
DH said I should have the company pay for a babysitter!!
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If you're nursing, bring her. It would be ideal if you could get someone to come with you (like your sister) to help if she gets cranky.
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@prettylizy: Honestly, I would think about bringing the baby with you.
What do you have to do when you testify? Sit up on the stand right? What do you do in the mean time? Sit in the back?
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@Thehistoryofus: I don't know yet. I still have to talk to our legal team and see what they say. Once they hear I have a BF 10 month old maybe they won't want me as much! lol!
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is your sister able to go with you? if so, i would bring the baby with you, and just hand her off to your sister when it is time for you to get on the stand.
also, i would call whoever the lawyer is or your HR department and let them know ahead of time that the baby will be going with you - they may be able to work something out where you can hang out somewhere other than the court house and then have someone call you when you're needed.
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@prettylizy: Explain your circumstances to your HR department. Maybe they are able to help you find child care. Any chance your company provides emergency or back up child care?
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I would leave the baby at my sisters house if she is willing and able to watch her for that day
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also, i don't know what state you're in, but you could also ask if it is possible to testify telephonically (depending on what you have to testify about)
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@PastaAndPotato: I know my sister would be there if I asked her, I just hate for her to waste a vacation day on something like this. I'm in Ontario and I don't know what the rules are for testifying via phone.
@Bluebonnet: I'm definetely going to find out more when I talk to legal about what may or may not be required of me. I don't know if they have child care available but I will ask!
@Mrsbells: I think that is my worst case scenario plan, leave her with my sister. I just hope it's not going to make my sister miss tons of work.
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@prettylizy: no, it sucks, but you cant bring baby to Court, most Judges dont allow this...since your sister lives nearby, can you ask her to watch her or maybe come with you to Court to help you with the baby? or maybe try to take someone with you to this Court appearance that can help you watch her while testify...GL
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@iluvpink: well that is good to know. I've got my fingers crossed that they don't need me to appear in court and can just take my statement.
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You can definitely bring your baby to Court! If you're a witness, you likely won't be in the Courtroom until it's your time to testify. At that point, you'd need someone to watch LO, but until then you will either be in the hallway or another room. This might depend on the type of case/trial though.
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@prettylizy: criminal or civil? And its perfectly okay to take a breastfeeding infant anywhere in Ontario. Its discrimationif they don't.
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