What's more important: Spending time with your family now or working to provide a better life later on?

Answer 1

In my opinion there is a time for everything. I strongly recommend the following:
If possible: Stay home w/kids until they go to 1st grade. (By then the foundations of their personalities have form).
Men: this is the best gift you can give to your wife and your children. If you both can afford it, go for it.

Later, have a part-time or work full-time. Whatever the money you stop making (moms) during this time was invested in the emotional well being of your kids.

Later, in life when you are working that time will be call (quality time).

What is the use of having a lot of $$$$ at the cost of your kids well being, emotional and mentally. There is a proper time for everything. (to stay home and to go to work).

Answer 2

Spending time with family now. Beyond a reasonable sufficiency, that "better life" is usually only a carrot for donkeys, an always receding goal. But children grow and change; the child each is today won't be there next week. So whilst it's wise to plan and work for the future, it's also wise to remember than all we ever have is "now". And in the end, when careers are over, the achievements of work forgotten or rubbed out by the next toiler, and we come to age and illness, it's the relationships you've made that really count - and most of all with the family.

Answer 3

Beth, a very good question that lots of people ask. Consider this. We have no guarantee as to how long we live. But if we're alive right this instant, we know it and can act. So, if we plan on spending time with the family "tomorrow", there's no guarantee that tomorrow will come. As you lay on your deathbed, are you going to regret having spent time with your family or at the office? Can you have both...yes and no. The balancing act is difficult because many jobs require a real personal commitment. Family life also requires a real personal commitment. If you truly enjoy your spouse and your children, then you can get more long-term satisfaction out of being with them, working with them and building your relationship with them than you can producing at a job. This means, of course, that you don't become president or CEO. So now you're 65, your kids are married and you and your spouse are looking at your life. You don't have the house at the beach, the mountain cabin and the personal jet plane with pension plan that finances all...but you have children and grandchildren who know who you are, a spouse who really likes you and you feel good about your life. I've tried both and found that my wife and kids are more important.

Answer 4

I think having a balance of both. I don't think there is anything wrong with two working parents, or a single parent who works full time. Just don't make work your top priority, make your family top. Spend as much time with them as possible, and make the time you have memorable. Working now, and saving money for the future is very important. I'm assuming you have children, and you can use the money you earn now to start a college savings account now, or perhaps plan for something else in their future. Balance is the key, and you can be a good parent and work for a better life at the same time.

Answer 5

While our son was growing up my hubby worked 12-16 hours a day 7 days a week to make money. One day he woke up and our son was 18 and walking out the door and he wondered where the time went. He was training a young man at a job one day and told him "no job is so important that you lose your kid--I did it--don't you" . As far as the better life -- the place he was working so hard for shut down--bye-bye. So he wasted all that time working for nothing. He has said if he had it to do over again--he'd skip the OT to spend time with his family. Our son is now 28 and they're starting to get acquainted with each other. J only remembers the big guy who came home in the morning, went to sleep and left in the afternoon--7 days a week. You can make money--you can't make up time.

Answer 6

Hi Beth-
I think its important that every family find a balance of what works "for right now" and what life you have grown accustomed to based on your choices.
I do not thing a husband or wife should be away from the family for extended lengths of time over a period of several years- for the sake of "sacrafice" because you don't know if that job you are doing that for will be there tomorrow and you gave up XX number of days/weeks/months/years with your family for nothing.
To me- it is best to live in the comfort of now- within our means yet able to enjoy and save.

Answer 7

Both are important, but spending time with your family now is more important. If you work too much you will miss lots of things and you may get wrapped up in your work and lose focus of who you are working for. Its like the movie Click. If you haven't seen it, you might want to watch it.

Answer 8

working to provide a better life later on!!! sure i would love to spend all the time in the world with my Family, but i can't right now!!!!!

Answer 9

Good Question Beth !... I worked 6 twelve hour days for many years , so I could provide a better life for my family..., My wife and kids now live 800 miles away...Although I got all the material possessions one could ask for ...IT WASN'T / ISN'T WORTH IT !!!

Answer 10

everybody wants to be with the family but how can we have better life if we will not work and struggle to achieve what we wants and then if you are sucess already then spend the best time for your family,i ithink it's not late to be with them and enjoy the life.