Tips for Dads of Preschoolers to Balance their Work and Family Life

Ahomewithapreschoolerisalwaysbustlingandraisingthemisoneofthebeautifulparentingexperiences.Hereishowdadscanbalancetheirworkandfamilylifetobepartofthisfunandadventurousexperience.Havingkidsisoneofthebiggestblessingsthatlifecanofferyou.However,sometimescopingwiththecompetitivecareerworldandalsospendingqualitytimewithyourpreschoolercanbecomealittletoomuch.Youneedtofindoutaperfectwayinwhichtogiveyourworkandkidstheindividualattentionwhichtheydeserve.However,thisiseasiersaidthandoneandrequirespsychologicalaswellaslogisticaladjustments.Youcantakehelpfromthetipsdetailedbelowinordertoachieveworkandfamilylifebalance.InthisarticleTakeOna“NonCancellable”ApproachPrioritiseYourActivitiesTakeOutQualityTimeLosetheGuiltTakeOna“NonCancellable”ApproachOftendadstendtoputworkcommitmentsfirstandthencancelonfamilycommitmentsonceworkdemandssurface.Thisapproachcreatesalotofproblemsinthelongrunasonceyouhavekidstherewillberecitals,parentteachermeetings,andsportsdaysetcthatyouwillmisson.Andsincetheseactivitiesareapartofyourchildrengrowingupyouwillmissoutonwitnessingtheirchildhoodtoo.Toavoidmissingoutonimportantkidseventsmarkthemas“noncancellable”inyourcalendar.Thismeansthatyouwillinformeverybodyatworkinadvanceaboutthefactthatyouneedtotaketimeoffinthosesituations.Politelydeclinewhateverelsecomesuponthosedays.Maintainajointcalendarwithyourpartnerandensurethatatleastoneofyouispresentoneveryimportantoccasioninyourchildren’slives.PrioritiseYourActivitiesYouneedtoprioritiseyouractivitieseffectivelyinordertomaketimeforyourselfandyourkids.Whenyouweresingleornewlymarriedandhadalotoftimeonyourhandsthenitwasnaturaltohavealotoftimeonyourhands.Probably,youwereonmultipleclubsandcommitteesandhadtimeforgolfing,fishingandtherotaryclub.Butnowwhenyouhavekidsitisreallytimeforyoutoprioritiseactivities.Weedoffalltypesofmemberships,commitmentsandextracurricularactivitiesthatarenotdirectlyrewardingtoyourcareer.Thiswayyouwillhavemuchmoretimeonyourhandtodevotetowhatreallymatters;theprogressionofyourcareerandkids.TakeOutQualityTimeThetermqualityoverquantityreallymatterswhenitcomestoyourkids.HoursofsittingwiththemoversullenconversationinfrontoftheT.Vcannevercomparetothepurejoythatyouexperiencewhenyougoonafamilyvacationtogether.Workashardasyoucanbutmakesurethatyoutakesometimeoffforafamilyvacation.Takeofftimefortakingyourpreschoolerstothemovies,tothecircusortothepicnicetc.Spendtimewithkidsdoingthingswhichtheyloveandtheywillappreciateitmore.LosetheGuiltManydadssufferfrominordinateamountofguiltoverthewaytheysometimeshavetocompromiseonkids’timeforworkandviceversa.Theexpectationistobealwaysperfectandperformthebalancingactforever.Thismaynotbealwayspossible.Itisnaturaltoarriveatofficeafewminuteslateandhaveoccasionalfoodstainsonyourlapel.Similarly,itisalsonaturaltomisstheoccasionalparentteachermeetingandthesoccerpractice.However,ifyouendupstressingoutabouteverythingandifsomethinglikethishappensyouwillbecomegrumpyanddiscontentedandthiswillhaveanegativeeffectonyourfamilylife.Acceptthatyouarehumanandareonlycapableofsomuchandthengiveyourselfabreak.Youwillbehealthierandhappierandconsequentlywillbeabletoenjoyyourselfmorewithyourkids.Afather’sinvolvementintheupbringingofchildrenisequallyimportant.Hence,makesurethatyoutakeoutfewminutesfromyourbusyscheduleeverydayforyourlittlebundleofjoy.Balancingworkandahomewithapreschoolerwillnotbedifficultifyoumakesurethatyousharefewbeautifulmomentseverydaywiththem.Howcandadsofpreschoolersbalancetheirworkandfamilylife?Whyisitimportantfordadsofpreschoolerstobalancetheirworkandhomesmoothly?Whatistheimportanceofinvolvementofdadsintheupbringingofpreschoolers?Discusshere.

Having kids is one of the biggest blessings that life can offer you. However,

sometimes coping with the competitive career world and also spending quality time with your preschooler can become a little too much. You need to find out a perfect way in which to give your work and kids the individual attention which they deserve. However, this is easier said than done and requires psychological as well as logistical adjustments. You can take help from the tips detailed below in order to achieve work and family life balance.

Take On a “Non Cancellable” Approach

Often dads tend to put work commitments first and then cancel on family commitments once work demands surface. This approach creates a lot of problems in the long run as once you have kids there will be recitals, parent teacher meetings, and sports days etc that you will miss on. And since these activities are a part of your children growing up you will miss out on witnessing their childhood too.

To avoid missing out on important kids events mark them as “non cancellable” in your calendar. This means that you will inform everybody at work in advance about the fact that you need to take time off in those situations. Politely decline whatever else comes up on those days. Maintain a joint calendar with your partner and ensure that at least one of you is present on every important occasion in your children’s lives.

Prioritise Your Activities

You need to prioritise your activities effectively in order to make time for yourself and your kids. When you were single or newly married and had a lot of time on your hands then it was natural to have a lot of time on your hands. Probably, you were on multiple clubs and committees and had time for golfing, fishing and the rotary club. But now when you have kids it is really time for you to prioritise activities. Weed off all types of memberships, commitments and extracurricular activities that are not directly rewarding to your career. This way you will have much more time on your hand to devote to what really matters; the progression of your career and kids.

Take Out Quality Time

The term quality over quantity really matters when it comes to your kids. Hours of sitting with them over sullen conversation in front of the T.V can never compare to the pure joy that you experience when you go on a family vacation together. Work as hard as you can but make sure that you take some time off for a family vacation. Take off time for taking your preschoolers to the movies, to the circus or to the picnic etc. Spend time with kids doing things which they love and they will appreciate it more.

Lose the Guilt

Many dads suffer from inordinate amount of guilt over the way they sometimes have to compromise on kids’ time for work and vice versa. The expectation is to be always perfect and perform the balancing act forever. This may not be always possible. It is natural to arrive at office a few minutes late and have occasional food stains on your lapel. Similarly, it is also natural to miss the occasional parent teacher meeting and the soccer practice. However, if you end up stressing out about everything and if something like this happens you will become grumpy and discontented and this will have a negative effect on your family life. Accept that you are human and are only capable of so much and then give yourself a break. You will be healthier and happier and consequently will be able to enjoy yourself more with your kids.

A father’s involvement in the upbringing of children is equally important. Hence, make sure that you take out few minutes from your busy schedule everyday for your little bundle of joy. Balancing work and a home with a preschooler will not be difficult if you make sure that you share few beautiful moments everyday with them.

How can dads of preschoolers balance their work and family life? Why is it important for dads of preschoolers to balance their work and home smoothly? What is the importance of involvement of dads in the upbringing of preschoolers? Discuss here.