A few years ago, one of my children received a diagnosis that required me to leave work and become a full-time caregiver. I live in the US, so I spent a great deal of time fighting for help. It was harrowing, to say the least. I have more support now, so I have been interviewing for jobs. During my interview today, the interviewer asked about my time leaving the workforce. I explained that I had a child that received a serious diagnosis, and that I didn’t have adequate support, and that leaving the workforce was a literal last resort. The interviewer (who was only partially paying attention) looks at me with a smile and says, “I’ll bet that was a nice refresher for you!” Silence.
Walked out of the interview.