I love spending time with my son, Kyle, my daughter, Kymberly, and my wife Sandy, who’s still very much a kid in many ways! Family time means everything to me. Oh, I have stress and pressures at work and at home just like anyone, I have an extremely busy schedule, and at times, I wonder how I’ll ever make time for my kids and wife. But these days, at the very least, I always try!
You see, I’ve learned one of life’s biggest lessons the hard way. Working 12-16 hours a day for extended periods? Been there, done that. I’ve been guilty of working hard to get ahead in my professional life at the expense of family life. Preoccupied with household chores and other responsibilities to the point where exhaustion prevents you from spending time with your family? Been there, done that, too!
It all comes down to priorities. “I know, I know, but I have to make a living for my family,” you say. This is understandable, especially in today’s economy. For years now in the US, the cost of living has increased consistently well beyond salary increases, leaving a gaping hole in middle class America. You’re either doing very well, struggling, or extremely poor these days. Middle class families with actual money in their savings account are almost bordering on extinction!
But if you’re not spending quality time with your family, I believe you have to ask yourself the million dollar question; what am I on this earth for if it’s not to enjoy a fulfilling life for my family and myself? Fulfillment can mean different things for different people except when we’re talking about our children. This is where the overwhelming majority of us agree; we all want our children to be healthy and to have fulfilling, productive lives. It’s very difficult to guide them there if you don’t invest your time in raising them, spending time with them, and creating strong emotional bonds with them.
In part 2 I’ll reveal what has worked for me, how I’ve dealt with struggling to balance my professional and personal life, and how I’ve won the battle within myself to make the right choices for my family’s benefit!