The joy of parenthood
Sunday, April 12, 2009 at 11:25PM I spend a significant amount of time on the road, whether out on safari in Africa, running workshops elsewhere or doing lectures around the country. None of these travels can even come close to the joy that I get from being a husband and father of two amazing boys. Case in point: our youngest son, Will, crawled for the first time a few weeks ago, and I am glad that I was home to enjoy the moment. My travels have me away from home about 12 to 14 weeks a year, which isn't too bad, but it also isn't too good. When I was in the software industry my travel schedule changed on a daily basis. Now at least know where I am going to be many months or even years in advance. Heck, I am starting to plan an Antarctica trip for 2012!! (anybody interested?!?!).
Here are a few shots from our 9 month old Will with his first movement across our living room floor.
Fatherhood and being a good husband to Leslie is all that I live for, and everything else takes a distant second to these kinds of experiences. If you are working too hard, or if you are not spending enough time with your family, you owe it to yourself to drop what you are doing and tell your kids and spouse that you love them and to also spend quality time with them. They deserve it and so do you.
Reader Comments (3)
So true! Beautiful images of your family -- glad you were there to witness the first migration across the carpet!
Hear hear, Andy. So good to see a truly talented and successful professional with their priorities straight.
Andy, the times you are away make the times you are at home that much more special. Being away, and yearning to hold and hear the little ones, makes you appreciate the time with them in a way that "stay at homes" don't experience. More important than being there every day is to "be there" when at home. Enjoy the little ones, it's a good time in life for them and you.