Spending Time At School

Answer 1

I’ve noticed a change.

Not a major political or economic change. But a change among those fathers with whom I work.

It wasn’t long ago when it was considered unprofessional to discuss family matters are work. The idea of spending an afternoon with my daughter on a class field trip was something to keep to myself. The job was supposed to sit atop every man’s list of priorities. Everything else was a distant second place.

My father was a school teacher for over thirty years. Most teachers have a lot of flexibility to their schedule during the summer months. But while school is in session, they have little. My father was no different. I saw him very little during the nine months of the school year. During the summer, he managed a community pool. I spent many lazy summer days at his poolcooling off from the Utah heat at his pool. Most importantly, the pool provided an opportunity to spend time with my father and drink gallon of Fanta Red Cream Soda.

The summer is the busiest time of my job. That makes it difficult to take vacations while my children are out of school. But I have far more flexibility to my schedule otherwise.

That means I can schedule time off to spend escorting my daughter on a fieldtrip to the Indian museum.Or frost sugar cookies with my son during his Halloween party.

At the start of my career, I wouldn’t have admitted to such activities when scheduling time off work. Doing so would have sent all the wrong signals. I can imagine the summary of my annual performance review would include, “Overall, a diligent employee, but one who puts family before his work.”

I knew times had changed when I began seeing more fathers accompanying their sons and daughters on field trips and spending more time in the classroom. And not just attending these activities but discussing them at work. That’s a major shift.

I’m thrilled to see companies embracing employees who have decided to start families. I believe there is room for both.

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