Balancing work, family, and the mental load.
293 threads
Had a wake-up call recently. My buddy mentioned planning a week away with his family in August and I realized I literally can't remember the last time we took more than a long week
Currently working 8:30-5:30, want to propose 7am-4pm so I can pick up my kindergartner at 4:15. Earlier start sucks but the pickup would change everything for my family. My manager
This is gonna sound dumb but I genuinely struggle with this. I finish work at 5pm, sometimes earlier on flex days. But my brain is still AT work, running through problems or stress
Got a call from daycare at 3pm that my 3yo fell and bumped his head. He was fine, no concussion risk, but I didn't even get to see him till 5 hours later when pickup. Wife was in b
For anyone doing the commute-to-daycare-to-office thing with two young kids: the Graco DuoGlider is legitimately game-changing. Can fit in most car trunks, handles both my 2yo and
4 days in Phoenix and I FaceTimed with the kids every night. My 4yo kept asking when I was coming home and it was... a lot. Got back last night and she wouldn't even talk to me for
My 3yo has been at Bright Horizons for 2 months and they say he barely touches lunch. Then I pick him up and he's asking for snacks within 5 minutes. I'm paying $2100/month for thi
In a meeting, my manager asked why I "couldn't stick around" more like the rest of the team. For context, my contract is 9-5. I leave at 5. Everyone else apparently stays until 6 o
Small win but I'm celebrating it anyway. Spent the day on actual focused work, completed a deliverable, sent it to the client before 5pm, and picked up my kid on time without that
Switched roles internally to a job with predictable hours 5 months ago. Started keeping a little tally to see if I could make it through the holiday quarter without bailing on pick
Took 8 weeks when our second was born. First week back at work and it felt like I'd been gone 8 months—projects shifted, org chart changed, my team had resolved problems without me
Looking to pick up maybe $500-800/month extra. Kids are 7, 4, and 2 - so evenings are chaotic but doable after bedtime. Considering: freelance writing, tutoring online, or maybe
Was in a traditional corporate management role making decent money but totally inflexible. Switched to industrial equipment sales 6 months ago and it's been a total mind shift. Pa
Got passed over for Director. Feedback was that I'm "not as committed" because I don't do happy hours, I leave at 5pm, and I haven't taken on extra projects. Meanwhile my colleague
Used up my official "paternity leave" (2 weeks, corporate job, major city). Half that time I was still answering emails because "things came up." Could my boss legally require that
This might sound dumb but I'm genuinely asking. I leave work at 6, pick up kids from daycare by 6:15. We're home by 6:45. I'm absolutely wrecked - mentally drained, hungry, feeling
Had kind of a wake-up moment last night. I was stressed about missing my son's soccer game because of a work deadline. Venting to my wife about it. She said, 'He doesn't care if yo
Everyone talks about side hustles as if you have free time. I tried freelance writing for a few months thinking I'd make extra money. Reality: I'd work 8-6 at my main job, come hom
Started freelance writing gigs on Upwork about 4 months ago, squeezing in work during naptime and after bedtime. Hit $200 this week! It's not going to replace my job or anything, b
I'm not great enough at work because of family stuff. I'm not present enough at home because I'm thinking about work. There's always something I should be doing. Always something