Tomorrow I'm going to just talk about academia and kids, so this post is for everyone else.
There has been a lot of talk about major businesses becoming more accomodating of parents. They don't want to lose valued employees and be forced to train someone new. But have businesses really made that transition? Are some jobs better than others?
Ann Crittenden's new book is about how businesses should value the skills of parents. They know how to make the best use of a small window of time. They can prioritize. These are the very traits that make the best managers. Perhaps parents can put these skills on a resume. Do you think that's realistic at this time? Or are most parents still apologizing for leaving work at 5:30 and pretending to be the unincumbered worker?
No matter how progressive your employer, the truth remains that there are only 24 hours in the day, and those who devote more of them to work at the expense of time with their children will be more successful in their careers. I feel sorry for those who make this choice since I think they'll wind up with a mountain of regret later on. But I suspect there is an unbreakable link between the amount of time invested and the degree of success enjoyed, in academia, the private sector, or any other field.
Posted by: John | October 05, 2004 at 01:50 PM