When Howard and I decided it was time for him to quit Novell and be a cartoonist, we were very aware that this would represent a significant lifestyle change for our children. Much of my energy over the next couple of years was spent in making sure that the kids perceived themselves as better off even though we had less income. It worked for a long time. But our lives have shifted since then. We are not pinching pennies and both Howard and I are constantly busy. I’ve become naggingly aware that, while Howard and I love our business challenges, the kids might wish for it to be different. From their perspective, there really is no difference between busy at a corporate job and busy at a home business. All they know is that mom and dad are not available to pay attention right now. I want my children’s future analyses of their childhoods to be of the “we were really lucky” variety instead of the “I will never do that to my children” variety.
I need to be spending more time and attention on the things that are important to my children rather than the things that are important to me or to the business. My first effort on this score will take place this afternoon. As soon as they’re all home from school, I am going to make myself completely available for the rest of the afternoon. We will probably go to a park. Then there may be ice cream. After that, who knows? But the festivities will wind down in time for bed because there is school tomorrow. I will also make some time available on Saturday. Even more important is remembering which hours are supposed to be devoted to house and family. Small business tasks keep trying to creep into those spaces and I need to evict them. My house and my children need to have my undivided attention at least once per day each.
The current spate of insanely busy should wind to a close by June 2nd. There will be a family trip on the weekend after that. We won’t go far, but we’ll be together away from the house. Howard and I are already turning over plans for a much bigger family trip next summer. We’re planning it now so that it is the first thing on the calendar for next year. We’ll have to plan everything else around it.