My husband is an amazing man, but I don't expect him to be Mr. Mom. He works really hard, has to travel all over the world, and I love my children- so I don't mind not being on the super high power career track. Would I love to have done both? Sure. Who wouldn't. As some people know I've got quite the ego- but being a parent means my needs don't come first- my children's needs do. And frankly my children are best served by their father pursuing his excellent career, and me pursuing a more flexible career that allows me to do all the things they need.
I know it's tough advice to give parents who are tired out by the teens, and want to relax- but I have to tell you, the kids in band, and the kids in sports that don't involve heavy partying (football and baseball unfortunately seem to involve a party culture), and the kids in drama, and yearbook, and other time intensive activities, seem to come through high school the best. And the mormons with their family nights, and their scouting, and their intensive interest and attention to their kids also do a fantastic job. After seeing literally hundreds amd hundreds of kids go through the door of my classroom, I can tell you that parental involvement and activities truly are the key. They just about guarantee you a good outcome- barring some really weird event- like a truly horrible and corrupting boyfriend or girlfriend, or something of that nature. |
