My spouse and I just started new jobs where we don't have much time off saved up. Every time we have to leave work, we either have to make it up by staying late or taking PTO. It seems that every week our girls, ages 12 and 14, call us for some reason or another. In the past month they have called for needing medicine for cramps, needing picked up because they don't feel good, their phone got confiscated and a parent has to pick it up at the end of the day, and maybe more (I forgot).

We had a talk with them that of course we want to be there for them, but please limit the calls to really important issues. At least once a week one of them will call or the school nurse will call saying they need something. For us to leave work and go to their schools (they go to different schools) it's 30 minutes to get there (depending on if we have to stop at home to get whatever they need first) and then however long we spend at school or taking them home, and then 30 minutes back to work.

I want to be a good parent, but I feel like we give them an inch and they take a mile. I remember being a kid and only having my parents pick me up maybe 3 times through Jr High and HS. Also for more context, we are usually gone or walking out the door a few minutes after they wake up, so we don't help them get ready for school. We moved here over the summer from out of state and they are new to these schools. They are also not allowed to keep medicine in the nurses' office, which would help alleviate some of this.

What can I do? I am feeling exasperated trying to keep a work/life balance. I don't want them to feel like I don't care. One time my younger daughter went to the nurse and when the nurse called I said I couldn't come, which was true. Later that day after school she was fine and playing at home. Almost every week one of us is leaving work (not a good look with our new bosses), having to come in early/stay late to make up the time, or taking PTO. I'm so tired.