Just got back from a 3-day conference for work and I feel like I missed everything. My 7yo was upset I didn't see his soccer game, wife was stressed managing two kids solo, and I'm exhausted. Back to the usual chaos but feeling guilty about missing stuff. Just needed to vent I guess. Anyone else dealing with the balance right now or is it just me?
3-day conference hit harder because you're at a point where your kid is actually aware you missed something important to him. That's the guilt that doesn't go away till bedtime.
Real talk: is this a one-time guilt spiral or a sign that your job's expectations are unsustainable with young kids? Because the answer changes what you should actually do.
Unpopular take but sometimes the work-life balance issue isn't about balancing better, it's about the job itself being incompatible with having young kids. Worth evaluating if this is long-term sustainable for you.
Your wife being stressed managing two solo is the part nobody talks about. She's not just doing your job AND hers, she's also managing the emotional fallout of you being gone. That's exhausting.
This is why I started asking about conference dates before saying yes. Not always an option but if you have any control over WHEN you go, timing around his schedule actually matters.
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The exhaustion is from being mentally checked out for 3 days then jumping back in at full speed. Your family missed you, your work exhausted you, and you had zero time to transition. That's a recipe for burnout.