*** If you missed Part 1 click here***
So, what are the symptoms of living an unbalanced, ‘lack of legacy’ life? Here are SOME of my symptoms, and a few others I have seen around me – can you relate? (I don’t want to make you feel bad but let’s be real for a bit eh?):
- Constantly feeling guilty – guilty that we aren’t around enough and then guilty that when we are around we just want them to go to bed so we can sleep.
- Our kids and wife saying “Really?” in an incredulous way when we suggest doing something as a family.
- Not be able to remember when the last time was that we watched our child’s game of soccer. OR the last time we were at a game and we weren’t constantly checking our blackberry for messages.
- Our kids rejecting us as a friends on Facebook (no joke!)
- The word ‘date‘ has more about shriveled fruit we get for our bowels, than something we do to connect with our kids or wife.
- We can’t name five of our teenage daughter’s friends, let alone have a conversation with her about her relationships.
- We don’t know/care what activities our son was involved in last night
- We text our children more than we talk to them.
I could go on, but by now you might be feeling so crappy that you just want to click away and try and get rid of the feeling of guilt (see point one). So I will finish with the ultimate failure…
We fear losing our kids so much that we stop being a parent and become a friend.
I realize that being a “Smart Dad” takes work. I continue to learn to live in balance. My life change started a few years ago and I have to say, being a business owning, hard working and loving Dad (with an incredible, long-suffering and patient wife!) is well worth the work.
Heck, I don’t confess to have found all the answers but I am guessing that there are many of you who might be able to relate to some of my thoughts, rants and reflections.
Maybe… just a little.
Why not subscribe and join me? Share YOUR thoughts and maybe together, then maybe we can get our shoulders ready for our kids?
G
