WFH saved my relationship with my kids

3d ago1 min read

Three years ago I was commuting 90 minutes each way and barely seeing the kids awake. Since going remote I eat lunch with them, pick them up from school, help with homework. My boss thinks I'm less productive but honestly I get more done in 6 focused hours than I used to in 10 at the office. My wife says I'm a different person. The money is the same, the work is the same, but everything changed. Anyone else find remote work actually made them a better dad?

9 comments157 views

Comments(9)

DDanNew Dad2d ago

I feel this so much. Being able to see my kids actually doing stuff during the day instead of just getting the tired version at night changed everything. Sounds like it was worth whatever transition period you had to go through.

BBrandonNew Dad2d ago

This is going to sound crazy but my kids remember me being home when they had bad days at school. That alone makes the whole arrangement worth it. How has your wife handled the shift?

DDerek M.New Dad3d ago

That 90 minute commute sounds brutal. The lunch thing alone is huge - those little moments add up way more than I realized when I went remote. Glad you're getting that time back with your kids.

PPaul M.Regular3d ago

This hits home. Being there for pickup changes everything about your whole day and theirs. Three years in and still feels like the best decision I made.

SSam T.Regular3d ago

Saved your relationship with your kids is exactly right. Three years ago I would have called WFH lazy but man it's not. You're actually parenting instead of just boarding them while you drive.

TTobias K.Regular3d ago

This gives me hope because I'm in that situation now and it's brutal. How did you convince your employer to let you go remote? That's my biggest hurdle.

MMarcoNew Dad3d ago

This is the dream. 90 minutes each way is stealing your life away. How long did it take to adjust to WFH and actually separate work from home time when you're in the same space?

DDannyRegular2d ago

90 minutes each way is insane. I'd be a ghost in my own house too. Glad you found something that let you actually be present. That's the whole game right there.

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TTony M.New Dad2d ago

This is huge. That commute was probably eating like 3 hours of every single day. WFH isn't for everyone but when it works it WORKS. Happy for you man, that's a real quality of life upgrade.