Tipping the scales: work vs. family
A friend of mine has had some difficulty adjusting to full time work from a stay-at-home, fluctuating freelance schedule.
Scratch that. Her family has had difficulty adjusting to mom’s full time work.
Another friend, a dad, and I were discussing sneaking work into vacation time, something I’m planning to do, soon. Don’t judge me. I’m not a workaholic. I just really, really enjoy my work. Anyway, the dad, who I’ll call Bryan, ’cause that’s his name, told me how much flack he caught for checking e-mail while on vacation with his family. I get it. I know that I need to be careful not to let work invade my family life. I also appreciate that vacation breaks serve a purpose, allowing employees the rest they need to be refreshed and not on the brink of burnout.
On the other hand, the prospect of returning to an overwhelming pile of tasks and messages is frightening.
As a kid, the youngest of my family, I would lie awake listening to my teenage sisters coming home and the conversations they would have with my parents after their dates or nights out with friends. When my parents would have friends over, I would sneak down the stairs to eavesdrop until either I was caught, or the party broke up. I’ve always hated to miss out on anything. Being away is like being sent to bed early.
It’s not just about balance, as so many writers on the topic would have us believe. It’s also about compromise. A little of this for a little of that. My female friend is compromising with a reduced schedule, providing a bit more availability of her time for her kids’ games and events. I time shift, working early, late or when the family is otherwise occupied so when I’m needed, I can devote my full attention. When we’re vacationing, I’ll give my all to tourist pursuits, barbecuing, dining out and hanging out with friends.
Just don’t tell if I’m blogging from the closet or checking e-mail in the wee hours. It’s a compromise.