A very interesting perspective:

Fathers who work too much: I’m sure you know that your family appreciates your hard work. They’re thankful for your sacrifices, and that you provide for them financially.

But they want something much more than the money you earn. They want you.

Your wife and children might not say it often – or at all – but they need you to be a leader in the home, and they need you to be present. They need you to provide stability and strength, to be a role model and mentor.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I know that the cost of living is rising, and I know that you want your family to have a comfortable life. I’m not asking you to be irresponsible, or to neglect your work.

If you have absolutely no choice but to work 50-, 60- or 70-hour weeks to make ends meet, then this letter doesn’t apply to you.

But if your main concern is whether you should buy a bigger car or home – not whether you’ll be able to pay your bills this month – then this letter does apply to you.

You might not feel like you have a choice about how much time you spend at work, but you do. It might cost you a promotion or a pay increase, but you have a choice.

In life, few perfect solutions exist. Instead, we’re confronted with choices, which come with their associated tradeoffs. If you prioritise your career over your family, what tradeoffs are you making? And are those tradeoffs worth it?

Read the entire piece here: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/an-open-letter-to-fathers-who-work-too-much-014914229.html

Daniel Wong is a learning and teen expert, and is also the best-selling author of “The Happy Student”. He offers programmes to help students attain exam excellence while also finding happiness and fulfillment, and to empower parents to motivate their unmotivated teenagers. Download his FREE e-book, “16 Keys To Motivating Your Teenager”. The views expressed are his own.