I took what I wrote in Parenting Is Hard seriously. I decided to step back, reevaluate, and make some deliberate changes.

I meant it when I said Parenting is Hard. It really is. For some it comes natural. For me it takes extra effort. So that’s exactly what I decided to do; put in the extra effort with the kids by spending as much time with them as possible.

I stay late at work now as little as possible. That doesn’t mean that I necessarily work less than before, but it means that I put in my regular hours, come home to actually eat with the family, play with the kids, put them to bed, and then finish things that I need to get done at work. Before I would stay at work until everything was done, and then hopefully see the kids in time to put them to bed. No more.

The payoff? It’s incredible. It’s like a totally different environment and feeling now. It’s more like I want it to be. The kids are a blast and I really do enjoy playing with them. What I think is really interesting is the unexpected reward out of this; the payoff at home has greatly reduced the stress at work. Who knew? But I’m not complaining.

When the day comes that I die, the last thing I want to be remembered for is what a hard worker I was. That’s nice and all, but I would rather be remembered for what a great husband, son, father, grandfather I was. Much more rewarding, don’t you think?