PARENTING June 25, 2001 Issue

Torn between family and work?

BY James Shepherd

The other week I heard an ad on the radio for a pamphlet entitled "Tips for balancing your work life with your home life." Maybe I could use a little of that, I thought to myself.

I have a wife and four kids, and am self-employed. Self-employment can be helpful for a family because of its flexible hours. But it also has its drawbacks—like long hours. It's difficult to balance time between work and family.

I often feel torn between being helpful to a client and being attentive to the family. And the family often loses out. When my business line at home rings, I sometimes jump to answer it, even when I'm in the middle of a family activity. On the other hand, tending to the family's needs sometimes makes me feel I'm not serving my clients' needs as best possible. Like if I leave the office early to pick up the kids from school.

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