So my boss' boss is hosting a district Christmas party next Monday 1.5 hours away from the city I live/ work in. I still BF which means I would have to pump in some random back room in her house. I also don't even know what I would do because I use all 4 bottles in my cooler during the day when I pump at work. My boss is trying to guilt trip me into going and said it will look bad if I dont go. Also, my DD goes to bed at 7-730 so I wouldn't even get to see her that day. I REALLY don't want to go!  So, WWYD?  Suck it up and go or be "that mom" and not go?  I should also add I'm in sales and I'm the only person in my entire district that has kids except for 2 that have grandkids. Ugh!                
                             
        
Re: Work Christmas party ?
How long have you been w/ this company? Have you gone to other work functions after hours like this? Do you really think it will "look bad" if you don't go?
My take - if you're new, that leans me towards going. But if there are other functions you've been to, that leans me towards not going. You shouldn't have to go to EVERY event. But if you always find a reason not to go, that leans me towards going.
However, if the logistics of your bottles actually makes it hard if not impossible to pump, then that is a totally valid reason to not go.
But I don't count "I won't get to see DD at all that day" as a valid reason.
Not really giving you an answer, am I?
  Just laying out the options and giving you more to think about.  
~Benjamin Franklin
DS dx with celiac disease 5/28/10
You can bring storage bags with you to transfer the milk to and keep a couple empty bottles to pump into while there. Can you stop at home after work on the way just to say hi and/or drop off your milk? Do you really think it will look bad if you don't go? How often are there events like this and do you go to other after hours events with these people?
Personally, I would go, especially if there aren't many work events like this during the year. It's good to network, especially if you're in sales, and if your boss has already told you it would look bad, you know at least one person won't be happy if you don't go (and that's the person writing your eval). The milk logistics are not that complicated if you bring some storage bags to free up the bottles. And an evening break might be good for you, I know I take just about every excuse to get out, because it doesn't happen often!
I work with a 'tight' group and we do 'extra' activities all the time. I started skipping a lot of events when I came back to work and mainly it was b/c I was EBF b/c you're right, it's a PITA to pump and it wasn't worth it to me. In addition, I was pumping at work and not able to really take lunch. Skipping all these 'bonding' events started to effect my relationship with my co-workers. One of them has a little one, but didn't BF and never got it. She just thought I was overly attached to LO. ;-)
With time, I started to make a better effort. I have been making it to most of the holiday parties (two of them!) and a couple of happy hours. Our group also did a 5k this past Saturday and even though I didn't want to wake up at the crack of dawn and run in 40 degree weather (and that is cold for us Floridians), I did and you know what, it was fun!
If your 'relationships' at work are important to you, I would make the effort. Skip the pumping session or wait until you get home. (Seriously, it won't hurt your supply.) If you don't care, then don't go.
GL with whatever you decide!
My twins are 5! My baby is 3!
DS#2 - Allergic to Cashew, Pistachio, Kiwi
DS#3 - Allergic to Milk, Egg, Peanut, Tree Nuts and Sesame