Working is important. We are all supposed to participate in a profession or two. When we work hard we not only feel more fulfilled, but we are able to live more comfortably.
Work like everything else can be taken to extremes
One of our sons brought our grandson for a visit this week. We had a great time visiting with them. There was one cloud over the visit. Our son was continuously either on the phone, or answering his emails.
At one point our grandson looked at me and said "Gram, dad has had the phone in his ear ever since we left Houston yesterday." The child was clearly NOT amused.
From his Dads point of view, the effort to continue the work through the vacation was his way of insuring the dollars to get everything the child could ever want or need.
The way the child saw things, His Dad was only present in body. Having Dad spend some one on one quality time without interruptions would have been Grandsons preference.
As I watched the scenario unfold it suddenly occurred to me that what I watched my son doing was the example I had set for him when he was growing up. We did not have the technology available today, but I was always checking for messages and returning calls in the middle of special family events, school functions and everything else.
I made it clear that customers and clients came first. After all we needed the money to provide all those music and horseback riding lessons and the nice clothes and toys.
If I had it to do over, the priorities would be different and my son might be able to spend time sharpening his relationship with his son...
This lesson was a sharp reality check. You do not get to go back and redo. Be smart and shut off your phones and get a working partner to handle your business so you can actually vacation with family and friends!
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