Simple question from my 7yo yesterday: "Dad, why do you work so much? You're always tired."
I gave her the usual answer about supporting the family and she just... looked at me. Didn't believe it. Smart kid.
Any of you had this conversation? How did you actually answer?
this is heartbreaking but also kinda the wake up call we all need sometimes. your daughter just told you something important without saying it. might be time to look at whether the work/life balance is actually what you want it to be or if you're just accepting it as normal.
lol the 'usual answer' never works. Kids can smell BS from a mile away. Mine asked me the same thing and I just said 'honestly bud, so we can pay for your soccer and your room and food' and he was like 'oh ok' and moved on. They just want the real answer.
lol the 7yo truth detector strikes again. they know when the answer doesn't add up
This is why I negotiated a 4-day work week. Took a pay cut but hearing "you're always tired" from my kid every single day was worse than the money. Your daughter's trying to tell you something.
That look hit different didn't it. My 6yo did the same thing when I said I work for her future and she just said "but I want you now." Honestly made me rethink the whole schedule.
That look is the wake-up call right there. My son gave me the same one and it made me finally set boundaries with work instead of pretending it was all necessary.
Real talk though - what'd you actually say after that? Did you adjust anything or just sit with the discomfort?
That look hits different doesn't it. My 6yo did the same thing and I realized she could tell I was just reciting lines. Started being more honest with her about it - said some days work is hard but it helps us do fun stuff. She seemed to get that better than the whole 'supporting family' speech.
Sign in to join the conversation.
did you ask her what she was thinking when she gave you that look? my gut says this is less about the work and more about her missing you. that's the conversation that matters imo