What are practical ways to balance work demands with actually being present for my kids and family?
My job provides, but my family is always my priority.
My Approach
- Redefine “Presence”: It’s about being truly engaged when I am with them, putting my phone away, even if my back pain limits how much I can physically do. Family dinners are sacred.
- Set Work Boundaries: I try to protect my evenings for family, avoiding emails unless urgent. It requires efficiency during the day, but it’s worth it.
- Leverage Weekends & Small Moments: Saturday mornings are golden. During the week, it’s those ten minutes before school or a quick chat.
- Bridge Work & Home: I talk simply about what I do so they understand, and they visit my workplace sometimes. This helps them appreciate our time together.
- Prioritize My Health: Managing my chronic back pain with physio and rest is non-negotiable. If I’m not well, I can’t be present for them.
It’s a continuous calibration, not perfection. But being intentional and making the most of the time you have allows you to be a present, engaged dad. What work demands are challenging you most?
This really hits home. I always focused on providing for my children, working hard, sometimes long hours. I saw it as my duty.
But looking back now, I wonder if I got that balance right. Issac talks about redefining “presence” and setting work boundaries. I probably fell short there. I was physically present, yes, but was I truly engaged? My mind was often still at the office.
I regret missing school plays, sports days, and countless bedtime stories because of work. Those small moments, the ones you trade for another hour at the grind, they slip away. You can’t get them back.
The advice about leveraging weekends and small moments for quality interactions is spot on. If I could go back, I’d put down the phone and just be there. Fully. And yes, prioritizing personal health is crucial too, so you have the energy to truly be present.
If there’s one piece of wisdom I could give: The work will always be there, but your children’s childhood won’t. Make those memories, truly connect. Don’t let regret be your rearview mirror.