Being a Parent - Being a Working Parent

It is time to make another confession: There is nothing more rewarding in life than being a parent, in my view. My blog entries so far may not quite highlight this fact, but if I were to be asked what fulfills me most in life, my answer would be: my kids.

Would I complain about my kids in the same way as I have at times complained about work? That I have hit the end of a learning curve, that I can't be bothered to deal with interpersonal problems, that it all seems a bit pointless, that colleagues are working for the wrong reasons? That I would rather try something else, something more fulfilling?

I am certain that there are many parallels between work and kids. I have in one entry said that "parenting is one of the most strenuous jobs". But those of us who are parents know that, at the end of the day, working and parenting are different worlds. That's one reason why a work-life balance is essential when you have kids: they do not mix. There's a consulting term I was trying to find online which reflects that work is mixed up and flows into non-work life. I can't find it. In practice, I guess this is the 24/7 BlackBerry availability syndrome or expectation. Even without kids, I don't think this is a healthy model. 

As a working parent these days, it's difficult to ensure that work does not encroach on your family life (too much), and that you have enough quality time with your kids (or more generally your family and friends, as a matter of fact). Which working mom hasn't taken calls on the playground, or checked work email on the iPad while "playing"? Especially in the era of smart phones, drawing a line between work and free time becomes even more difficult.

Another issue I may write about later is when family (in particular kids) flow into "work time", e.g. during illnesses or due to unexpected circumstances.