The Easy Job is Hard

Last week's article was the Easy Job.  The Easy Job was going to work instead of caring for the children all day. 

While those who responded did agree with the article, I have also been corrected.  The Easy Job certainly has it's own set of challenges. 

It's not always easy to bring home enough money to support the family. It's not always easy to get out of work on time or avoid bringing work home. With email we often feel like we are always on the job. 

No, it is not easy to bring home money to support the family the way one would like to support their family and the way a family would like to live. It's a challenge--and some days it is even more than that. 

Those working the easy jobs do come home exhausted, and they have to recharge quickly for the rest of the family.  We, too often, think of work when we are at home. It just is. 

Now, how about missing the school graduation from pre-school, the recital, and all those special moments?  Often, the guy who mentioned this to me, D, was at work. He had to hear, second hand, about the play,and the graduation, as well as, the first steps, the first words, and all those wonderful things. D, a very successful business person, said he would have gratefully traded it all for those moments.  

Yes, a business success, but one of many who also thinks about what they missed in the process. 

So, he lost. He took the easy job, to earn the money to care for his family and provide well for them. School, college, weddings, grandchildren, and family trips all cost a lot of money.   He sacrificed and had to settle for the review of the great moments.   

How many have missed out and have regrets? While I am one of them, I did make most of the important moments.  Yet, I missed a lot and was distracted and tired when I was there. 

Oh, that easy job has such risks and limitations. The easy job is not easy. It's not easy to provide the dollars and also be there for the kids. It's not always easy to be in the moment with the kids and to attend to all their desires.  But do we wish we could. 

The tough job is the most rewarding and the one that rewards over a lifetime. The easy job is hard, demanding, and keeps one away from the priorities of kids, spouses, and grand kids.  That easy job is so difficult in so many ways.