Work-Family Balance Debate

What if you're 24 years old with a two person family and limited commitments, except for your drive to see the mountains on the weekends, to watch the sunsets during the week, to keep up with your old friends online and read history in the evenings?I've seen the hypothetical comparison above made elsewhere, and it seems to imply choosing one category of "ephemeral stuff that has no bigger meaning to you" (the kids and the family) over another (work til 3am).Not to denig

What's the point of working so much if you don't take the time to actually enjoy your life?How does your family tolerate you basically spending no time with them? I can't imagine that you have a healthy relationship with them.For me, it's the opposite: my time is precious, and if I'm going to be spending it in the service of others, I need to be well-compensated for it. And even then, there are limits.

> You could also just work less, or let yourself spend less time and energy on your kids.When nearing end of life, many people, especially fathers, say they wish they'd dedicated more time to their children rather than work. While meaningful work can provide purpose, it doesn't compare to the happiness derived from building meaningful relationships with loved ones. Children offer a rare opportunity to enjoy one of the deepest forms of human connection available, and I think it&#x

You have describe a situation where you and your wife decided on priorities in your life and acted accordingly. You both decided that personal career goals were secondary to raising your kids. It's a mystery to me why this is not seen as normal. Everything involves trade-offs. It's not possible to be present, involved parents and spend 60-80 hours a week on a career. Choose one or the other, and don't complain about how unfair it is.

I don't know why you've been down voted. But I agree with you - I'll make less money and spend time with my family.

I'm not really wanting to not work, as such, but to transition from working for someone else to working on my own projects.So the equation for me is more: Spend a little less time with wife/kids today to improve my future enjoyment of the work part of life.It's a tough balance, because I highly value wife/kids time -- so when I give up some of that (valuable and well-spent) time for a potential future good, I want to make sure I'm using that time optimally,

Maybe his kids are doing well because he has a lot of time to be a great dad and coach them?Life happens. Shit happens. Kids happen. Enjoy the ride and don't terrify yourself about money or what your life should look like. We all get 24 hours a day on the planet and from a long term perspective, almost nothing of what we do really matters. Maybe by moving boxes instead of schlepping in a lab for some deranged sociopath like Elizabeth Holmes, the guy gets to spend a couple more priceless

If you live to work, all the power to you. Just don't get kids, the world has enough broken folks who are struggling their whole lives to overcome their childhood and their father figure (or the lack of it). They carry the traumas right into their own relationships, often repeating same mistakes. Listen to people a bit since its easy to notice if you know what to look for, its proper pandemic under the hood in all directions.The ones I've met in this category, always a stellar caree

I'm 32 and have found that my priorities have shifted over time. I had goals of running a start-up and making work optional by 35.I've been involved in start-ups and have been a partner in a couple.I now have 3 kids and view my 8-6 job as an athlete views game day. I seek to perform at my highest level during work hours and then try to turn it off after. I don't miss it when I'm with my kids or my wife or friends. For me, there's more to life than work/job

This concept of 996 or 007 it may be acceptable to Young people without kids and family obligations for as long as their bodies allow it (without enough sleep, descent food or exercise).For others with families (spouse, kids, activities for kids, hanging out with friends, spending time with your spouse and friends outside of work) it may not even be an option and may not be able to support it.Life is like a coin. There are two sides of a coin. Flipping it, it will always land in one side.