Comments on: What Is this Work-Life Balance of Which You Speak?

By: brett

brett — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:09:38 +0000

As a physician, it is really hard to take off unscheduled days. But it is so hard not to feel guilty about not spending enough time with my kids.

By: Archi

Archi — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:12:34 +0000

Emotionally whatever you think is important, lets face it,practically is it possibleto shut down the computers and to rush home..

By: Nataly

Nataly — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:44:44 +0000

My daughter has a new habit of telling me that she is really going to miss me when I drop her off at school. It makes me really sad but I try to remind her of something fun we may do when I pick her up…

By: Robyn Roark

Robyn Roark — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:14:03 +0000

For me, it would have all depended on the day. Sometimes I am just itching for an excuse to leave early and go home. Sometimes not even a family emergnecy could keep me away from my work. Most days, I am more than comfortable with my decisions to stay or leave.

If you are still feeling pangs about the choice, I say take an afternoon off and suprise your child with a special day with mom. Maybe a fancy lunch out just the two of you. Or pull her out of school for a trip to the movies. Sometimes kids just need to feel extra special.

By: krisc

krisc — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:49:50 +0000

I’ve gotten this message, usually by IM, and done exactly what you did. But it hurt my heart.

By: jlauren

jlauren — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:06:10 +0000

Although there is a time and a place for it, I’m a big fan of playing hookey. Not every time, or even often - but sometimes. It’s those moments that we’ll remember when our kids are huge and busy. It’s those moments THEY will remember when we are old and bored and want their attention. : )

I agree, kids should know that no one is at their beck and call, and that sometimes other people’s needs come first. But I think sometimes it’s great to show them that you’ll put everything on the back burner for them just because they miss you. It teaches them something about work life balance - something they’ll need when they’re our age!

Apart from maybe surgeons or ER doctors, none of us are so important at work that we can’t take a little bit of time for ourselves once in a while. Again, I think it should be rare, or else it is not special. But I think it’s important once in a while.

By: Samantha

Samantha — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:09:44 +0000

Like Robyn says, it’s all about duty. Some mornings I just want to play hooky and stay home with my girl all day, but we both have places we should be. It is a good life lesson. I know I nagged my mom all the time when she was at work but she never came home for me unless I was sick or really needed her. It’s good for a kid to know that sometimes others’ needs come before his/her wants.

By: Robyn

Robyn — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:40:05 +0000

My daughter is a little young for email. But I’ve definitely been sitting at my desk and suddenly been bowled over by that feeling before. The sudden, intense longing for my child. I wish I could say that I got up and left, but the fact is that it just isn’t possible to walk out on your job any more than it is possible to walk out on your kids when they are driving you nuts. I’ve been sitting at home and suddenly wished for an adult to talk to, as well. But I didn’t get up and leave the baby on her own. It’s just the way life is. Duty calls, no matter who you are.

By: Yvie

Yvie — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:00:56 +0000

I love I Can Haz cheeseburger!

Anyway, that has to be the most adorable e-mail message one can receive. As of late, I only receive e-mails and offline messages from hubby. But it would be nice if my son does that when he turns 4.