CarrieDaway

Dinner conversations around here can be hard to come by. Even though we see Mr. B three times a week for dinner (and maybe in part because we do), our polarizing world views keep our safe topics to a minimum. Consequently, work ends up dominating my contributions.

I work a lot and my hours are long. There’s a lot to do and I can’t rest until tasks are completed – it’s a never-ending cycle. Mom taught us to have a strong work ethic and give our all to our jobs no matter what and so the three of us are probably killing ourselves working all hours of the day and night and thinking about the work that needs to be done in between.

I don’t want to be a workaholic but it seems that I am.

Mr. B often tell me I work too much and I respond with, what else am I supposed to do? I have to work and I want to work hard so that we can be successful. Even though my hard work hasn’t paid off in a decade, like the person that plays the lottery I hope that one day it will.

Tonight Mr. B surprised me and caught my attention because after he said I work too much he added:

It’s good to have a strong work ethic but you have a strong work ethic at work and a strong home ethic at home.

The statement has resonated with me more and more since he said it. I pride myself at being good at my job but never consider the consequences it has on my home life (and it does). I work because I want to take care of my family but at the same time it hinders my ability to take care of my family.

As always, I have a laundry list of to-do items but Mr. B has created the top challenge. How do I create as strong of a commitment to family time as I do to work time? I’m not sure yet but it’s something to think about.