Balancing Work & the Family

[Joshua Nichols]

This discussion was influenced by an article that my friend, James Nored, brought to my attention entitled Balancing Work & Family for a Successful Life.

 

Balancing work and family has always been important for healthy living.  This was important even back in the day when most households were living on one income, but it is even more important now that more and more women are entering the workforce.  With both spouses working, "taking care of things at home" may often take the backburner on the priority list; and what attention is devoted to the home and family, often falls on the wife.

 

If we are going to be a "two-income family," we need to work extra hard at reminding ourselves that our family is our FIRST ministry.  Here are some tips that may prove beneficial for these families:

 

• Equally share in household responsibilities.  Husbands need to pick up the slack and help their wives with different chores around the house as well as with parenting responsibilities.  Wives should let go of ownership of the household responsibilities and allow their husbands to help.
• Communicating with assertiveness and active listening.  You and your spouse should work at being assertive with your feelings and requests for each other.  However, also work at active listening (e.g., head nods, reflective listening "What I am hearing you say is..."; etc.) when your spouse is talking.
• Schedule your quality time.  Planning becomes more and more important.  Quality time with your spouse and children needs to be planned out.  Spontaneity may occur from time to time, but should not be expected. Don't fret, that is actually a good thing.  Remember, an intentional marriage is more meaningful than a spontaneous one.
• Take time for yourself.  This is pretty much self-explanatory.  If you are exhausted, you can't be the husband/wife, father/mother, or friend that others deserve.

I am all for both spouses working (if that is their desire); my wife and I, too, are both in the workforce.  However, we need to work hard to not sacrifice our families for our careers.  In Toby Keith's (an odd source, I know, but it fits) song "The List," he states "I won't break my back for a million bucks I can't take to my grave. So, why put off for tomorrow, what could get done today?". Let's remember that spending enternity in heaven with our families is a far greater prize than a paycheck.  Thus, husbands and wives in the workforce need to work together to make the necessary changes to make sure their relationships and families don't suffer by their career decisions.

 

God bless you all.