Promotion means less time with family, not sure it's worth it | DadHQ

Promotion means less time with family, not sure it's worth it

3d ago1 min read

Got offered a director role that would mean 10 more hours a week minimum, probably travel quarterly. Money would be really good and it's a real opportunity. But my kids are 4 and 7 right now and I'm finally at a place where I actually know what's going on in their lives. Asking myself if the paycheck is worth missing things. Did anyone turn down a big opportunity for your family and feel good about it later?

6 comments195 views

Comments(6)

DDannyRegular2d ago

Man, I get this one. I turned down a similar bump a couple years back and honestly never regretted it. Those 10 hours add up fast, and quarterly travel means you're missing stuff. What does your gut tell you about the trade-off? Because the money usually doesn't feel as good as you think when you're at your kid's game and realizing you missed the last one.

TTony M.New Dad2d ago

This is the real question nobody wants to ask. I did the promotion thing and yeah, the paycheck is nice but my oldest barely knew who I was for two years. Not saying don't take it, just saying know what you're trading. Talk to your wife about what matters most right now.

VVincentRegular2d ago

I turned down extra hours for a reason. Those 10 hours a week add up to missing so much. Director title doesn't matter when you're eating dinner alone because everyone's already in bed. Your kids won't remember your promotion.

BBrianRegular3d ago

Talk to them about what the role actually looks like day to day. Sometimes the '10 more hours' turns into way more when you're on email at night. I'd ask exactly what travel means too before deciding.

EEdRegular3d ago

Real talk: money is important but time is what you can't get back. I've done both and staying in a role where I could be present was worth taking a smaller paycheck. Not saying don't take it, just saying know what you're actually trading.

BBenNew Dad3d ago

Congratulations on the offer, that's huge. But yeah, 10 more hours a week is basically another part-time job on top of what you're already doing. I'd ask them if there's flexibility or if the travel could be consolidated into fewer longer trips instead of quarterly sprints.