27/07/2025
I Fired a Single Mom for Being Late, then Found Out Why and Begged for Forgiveness...
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For about 6 years, I’ve been a supervisor, always believing that I was fair—firm, yes, but fair. Guidelines are guidelines and they are there for a reason, and if I start allowing exceptions, where would it end? That’s what I told Maria when I dismissed her last week.
She was late for the third time this month, and our policy was clear: three strikes, you’re out. When I called her into my office, she didn’t dispute. She just nodded quietly, picked up her bag, and left.
Later that day, I overheard two colleagues talking. “Did you hear about Maria’s son?” one of them asked. “Yeah,” the other replied. “She’s been sleeping in her car with him.”
That’s when I discovered: Maria had been kicked out 3 weeks ago. Her ex-husband was long gone—no child support, no family to rely on. She and her 5-year-old son had been living in their car. The reason she’d been late is because every morning, she would drive across town to a church where they could clean up before taking him to school.
I was filled with guilt. I hadn’t fired someone for being careless, I had punished someone who was struggling to survive.
I tried contacting her, but she didn't answer. I texted her, still nothing. I started calling shelters, food banks, any place that might have supported her. Most places were not allowed to share information, but one woman at a local church paused when I mentioned Maria’s name.
“She was here two nights ago with her son,” she said. “Picked up some food and blankets.”
Just when I was about to lose hope, I noticed an old sedan in a grocery store parking lot across the street. The windows were foggy, and from beneath a blanket in the back seat, a face peeked out.
I knocked gently on the window. A moment later, Maria sat up in the driver’s seat, clearly wary and alarmed. But the moment she recognized me, her face went blank.
“I’m so sorry,” I said. “Please, let me help.”
I offered her the job back, no conditions attached. But that wasn't enough—I wanted to help her rebuild. My friend ... (continue reading in the 1st comment)