I couldn't agree more. I, too, feel fortunate to be there for my kids, and have trouble understanding my friends who spend so much time at work. Somewhere along the way, we (men) were taught or told that our responsibility was to provide for our family. While this may be true, so many of us only think about providing a house, clothes, food, toys, nice schools, etc. What about providing the most important thing your kids need in life -- a dad!
It's a hard road, because kids are messy, loud and demanding. Mine exhaust me. It also (usually) means a financial sacrifice of some kind, whether dropping from dual income to single, or from one big income to two smaller, part-time ones. But I believe with all my heart that it is the right thing to do. In the end, no one will remember the buildings you built, the wealth you amassed, or whatever it is you do at work to make America better. What will last is your legacy of fatherhood in your children and their children.
"Raising kids" is a lousy expression. We should talk about creating competent, confident, well-adjusted, compassionate, selfless adults who will make our world a better place. If that's not worth my full-time attention for 18 years or so, I don't know what is!
Yes. Yes. YES.
I couldn't agree more. I, too, feel fortunate to be there for my kids, and have trouble understanding my friends who spend so much time at work. Somewhere along the way, we (men) were taught or told that our responsibility was to provide for our family. While this may be true, so many of us only think about providing a house, clothes, food, toys, nice schools, etc. What about providing the most important thing your kids need in life -- a dad!
It's a hard road, because kids are messy, loud and demanding. Mine exhaust me. It also (usually) means a financial sacrifice of some kind, whether dropping from dual income to single, or from one big income to two smaller, part-time ones. But I believe with all my heart that it is the right thing to do. In the end, no one will remember the buildings you built, the wealth you amassed, or whatever it is you do at work to make America better. What will last is your legacy of fatherhood in your children and their children.
"Raising kids" is a lousy expression. We should talk about creating competent, confident, well-adjusted, compassionate, selfless adults who will make our world a better place. If that's not worth my full-time attention for 18 years or so, I don't know what is!
Thanks for the post!