More on Balancing Work and Personal Life

Posted on July 16, 2009 
Filed Under Focus on the Family Broadcast, Marriage, Parenting, Social Concern, Spiritual Life

I’ve had some good reactions and conversations resulting from my recent post about the blending of personal matters and work. And the topic remains in the news, as a couple of high-profile individuals have pretty much said – or simply demonstrated through their life – that if you want to be successful in the work-world you’ll need to sacrifice family and friends in the process.

But in her rise through the legal profession, she has made a number of personal sacrifices, most notably marriage and children.

The confirmation hearings for Judge Sonia Sotomayor have put the spotlight on her devotion to work. In fact, that may have been a factor which led to the end of her marriage to her high-school sweetheart.

“I cannot attribute that divorce to work,” she told a panel on judicial life. “But certainly the fact that I was leaving my home at 7:00am and getting back at 10:00pm was not of assistance in recognizing the problems developing in my marriage.”

Hmm. I don’t know about that. It seems likely that she chose to be a success at work, instead of making her marriage successful. I don’t know the circumstances, and don’t presume to make a values judgment, but that’s something I’ve seen other couples struggle with, some staying together and others breaking up.  In essence, we have choices in life, and some people choose accomplishments over relationships.

Then there is former GE Chairman Jack Welch, who recently made some comments at a conference to this effect (and this is my paraphrase):

Ladies, you can’t have it all. You can take time off from your career to care for your kids, but don’t expect to be a top candidate for a promotion when you re-enter the workplace. You’ve already demonstrated that your first allegiance is not to the company. You can’t have it all.

You can read Mr. Welch’s remarks here.

And then, be watching for a conversation with three Moms who left successful careers to stay at home with their kids. They share the joys and struggles they faced, and their candid admissions will be helpful to women who are thinking of stepping out of the work-place. That Focus on the Family broadcast, scheduled to air July 27-28, is further described here.

This can be a contentious matter, and I welcome your thoughts.

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