Back to School Work-Life

September 6th presented some new challenges for full-time working dads, like yours truly. With school busses on the local streets, commuters back in full swing on the highway, and kids starting a fresh school year, life gets complicated.  In my house, where three little ones go off to school at three different times, and dad is responsible for morning duty, it’s extremely stressful to manage the morning.

5:55 a.m. – alarm goes off, time to make coffee and wake up the 10-year-old starting middle school

6:15 a.m. – delicious breakfast made, convince 10-year-old that a healthy breakfast might give him enough energy until his later-than-usual lunchtime

6:20 a.m. – start work-life blog for 8:30 a.m. submission

6:30 a.m. – wake up 1st grader and remind him that morning is not the time for video games

6:45 a.m. – empty dishwasher and persuade 1st grader that breakfast of champions does not include chocolate

6:55 a.m. – ask middle-schooler where his raincoat is

7:00 a.m. – call neighbors for raincoat whereabouts

7:05 a.m. – wake up wife for raincoat whereabouts

7:10 a.m. – wave goodbye to 10-year-old wearing sweatshirt in rain

7:15 a.m. – shower, dress, get ready for work

7:45 a.m. – explain to 4-year-old why grown-ups need to attend work every day during a volatile economy, tell 1st grader home schooling is not possible right now

7:50 a.m. – review bus route and timing with 1st grader

7:55 a.m. – recycling and trash put to curb

8:00 a.m. – pray for short drive thru line at Dunkin Donuts

8:10 a.m. – highway gridlock

8:15 a.m. – see accident that caused back-up, decide to rubberneck like everybody else

8:45 a.m. – review emails and calendar on blackberry

9:00 a.m. – arrive to work 30 minutes late

10:10 a.m. – publish this blog

Prediction for tomorrow:

  • Raincoat will be found although there’s no rain in the forecast.
  • Will need to remind middle-schooler to bring home his mom’s umbrella from locker.
  • 1st grader will not want to go to school anymore.
  • Pre-schooler will determine that she has enough saved up to help daddy stay home from work.

Read the latest survey on work/life balance here.

Attention Working Moms! See Sarah Jessica Parker’s new movie trailer on balancing work and family.

  

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