‘I love you, mom’: Boy’s conference call interruption brings joy

(Gray News) - When conference call technology really took hold by necessity during that year-plus we really want to suppress from our memories, a positive side effect was the many hilarious and sometimes awkward moments where home life collided with work life.

Such was the case Thursday for Debra Worley, who leads the national digital content team for Gray Media, which owns this television station and more than 120 more across the U.S.

On a regular monthly call with digital leaders at all Gray stations, Worley was talking about her team’s work when her blurred background had some movement.

That’s when more than 150 call attendees were treated to an on-camera interruption from her son, Maddox.

Amused, yet mortified, Worley explained that there was no school that day and that “now, I have friends with me.”

The interruption was funny enough, but hearts exploded when on his way out of the room, Maddox said, “I love you, mom.”

The meeting chat was immediately flooded with heart emojis and smiley faces to go along with real smiles and laughs from everyone else on camera.

The collision of work and life in real time was a great reminder that we all have more than one job in life, and being a beloved parent is one of the most fulfilling roles someone can have.