When you realize your working to damn much Options

[ESPCamaro]

Lately I've had very little time to work on our car.

My son is what I live for. And I get home so late, if I spend ANY time in the garage I miss out on ANY time with him. He'd be asleep when I get in.


That's one of the signs.


2nd...Driving down the road, having SubWay for the 2nd night in a row, because it'll be 7:00 or later by the time we get home (my wife and I work together-no we didn't meet at work).


Boy this sucks!! I need this weekend bad.

[mitchntx]

Sounds like my hell-month ...

Hang in there ...

[1LEThumper]

There is life outside of work?




Damn why didn't someone tell me

[y5e06]

no $%&@!
I started w/ a new company in December. After the first 2 months I felt like I have no other life. I haven't touched more than one of my cars in more than 3 months.... and that was the 'burb for brake fixin'!

[firehawkclone]

I know what you mean....i've had 3 weeks of vacation in 10yrs!

Im going on vacation next week (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) so i can catch up on all the work i need to do around the house (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)

[roy]

I can relate a little bit I ve had a couple Hell years and Hell half years. But I get to stand on the other side of the rainbow now. Come April 17 will mark my 20th year working for the same organization.

[Lucas Black]

not quite the same, but i'm an architecture student at the University of Houston, and in just the past two semesters, I'm probably in the double digits on how many all-nighters I've had to pull working on projects.

There was a stretch there last semester where I didn't go home for two days, and was awake for over three.

[beuke23]

it's almost 4 o'clock in the morning. I've been up since 8 yesterday morning...I'm going home...

[v7guy]

I hear you guys, on a good week I pull 60 hours, on the bad 80, all I have to keep up with is a car, a apartment and a live in girlfriend. Cant even imagine having a kid in there too. It kicks my arse.


I'll get around to that leaky rear main sometime in the next few weeks (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[sgarnett]

Yeah, I'm really anxious for my daughter to get past this stage where her bedtime is so freakin' early. She is too (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

She's been in the garage a few times lately, though, and seems to love it. I may have to figure out how to childproof the garage so she can "help" when I'm doing the easy stuff.

[jensend]

Realized I worked too much when I came home from my second job one night and realized I had seen neither of my two young kids during their waking hours for over two weeks. Kind of makes you re-examine your concept of yourself as a "parent". Fortunately, my second job was my own business. After discussing the issue with my wife (God bless her) we agreed to take the financial "hit" and I closed the business to spend time with my kids. This represented a more than 50% drop in income, so it wasn't a casual decision. We managed anyway and I spent lots of time with my two sons. Friends and neighbors thought us crazy. Nine years later I was diagnosed with late third stage cancer. After surgery, I was given a 20% chance of survival for two years. Needless to say, I had no regrets about the "sacrifices" I had made to spend time with my family. Luckily, I was a statistical exception (8years and counting). When the time came to retire from my career, there was no question about the choice between working longer to increase my pension/savings or having more time with family and hobbies. We find ways to do what's necessary. We don't have the fanciest house on the block, and my truck has 187k on it, but, I don't have to worry that I'll get to the end of things and regret that I chose working over living. Trust me, there are enough unexpected uncertainties in life for me to know that work and wealth are two of the weakest reasons for not focusing on the things that really give meaning to living. Once you're gone, the people who love you will put more value on what you did with your time together than how big an office or portfolio you had. Death is a "given" and unavoidable; death with regret is my idea of Hell. Sorry if this rant sounds preachy, but it's something that has been very important in my experience.

[rmackintosh]

...yeah...work is PRETTY damn far down my list of things to take my time....with two kids under 6 and a STEADFAST belief that you "work to live" NOT "live to work"....I would not put up with the schedules/pressures a lot of you guys are talking about....life it just TOO DAMN SHORT....I would be looking for a career change in a heartbeat...

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[John_D.]

I closed the business to spend time with my kids. This represented a more than 50% drop in income

Friends and neighbors thought us crazy.

Nine years later I was diagnosed with late third stage cancer. After surgery, I was given a 20% chance of survival for two years.

Luckily, I was a statistical exception (8years and counting).

...work and wealth are two of the weakest reasons for not focusing on the things that really give meaning to living.

Sorry if this rant sounds preachy...

Not preachy at all. Very well put. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks for sharing that with us!

[mitchntx]

Death is a "given" and unavoidable; death with regret is my idea of Hell.

You have a very nice perspective ...
Those are profound words ...

My kids are grown and gone creating their own lives ... I do have regrets about spending time with them. But I did the best I could with the tools I had at the time. Hind sight is 20/20, you know. And I was too damn young to be having kids ... out first one was born when I was 20 ...

On the bright side ...

Here I am at 46, good health and making a decent living. I can now enjoy the things I couldn't when I was 26 ...

[beuke23]

Sorry if this rant sounds preachy, but it's something that has been very important in my experience.

Thanks for sharing that D. Great thoughts. Reminds me Of Lou G who flew home to be wth Louis for his graduation during a race weekend at Lime Rock. He's got his priorities right.

My dream is to own a business that involves my family members. I hated that show "American Choppers", cos it looked so acted. But the idea of working with your family everyday sounds very appealing to me. Now I can't stop watching that show.

I'm going home early tonight...

Aria

[Pilot]

not quite the same, but i'm an architecture student at the University of Houston, and in just the past two semesters, I'm probably in the double digits on how many all-nighters I've had to pull working on projects.

There was a stretch there last semester where I didn't go home for two days, and was awake for over three.

I'm right there with ya... I'm at OSU studying Business Mgt with a concentration in Aviation, doubled with Econ and a minor in Math. FUN FOR ALL!

[Eric02z]

Small business....it seems to be no time or no cash...not any balance.

Lucas...hang in there buddy, it gets slightly better !

[rmackintosh]

And I was too damn young to be having kids ... out first one was born when I was 20 ...

...had the FIRST kid when I was 33.. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

...and ANOTHER one at 38..... (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)

my life is gonna be "fun" for a while eh????

(IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/banghead.gif)

[sgarnett]

I was 39 when my daughter was born. I think I need to get grease fittings installed in my knees.

[00 Trans Ram]

Honestly, I can relate, but not because of my current situation.

When I was in high school, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Through the 3 years shoe fought it (had a recurrence 18 months after the first diagnosis), it brought our family VERY close together. During that time, as a Freshman-Junior in high school, most of my friends' biggest worries ewre what party was happening Friday night, and who they would bring. My biggest worry was if my mother would see me graduate. It really put things in perspective. As we look back on it, our entire family agrees - if we could do it all over again (knowing she would survive), we would still choose having the cancer. Our family is VERY close, and all of us realize the true things that are important.

A few years ago, my co-worker quit. For 9 months, I worked 12-14 hours a day, 6 days per week. I saw my wife (we'd only been married around a year or so) maybe 1-2 hours per night, and on Sunday. Then, one day, I went into work and told them that they needed to hire someone else. As of that day, I was not going to work more than 50 hours per week (except in special circumstances) and I would not work the weekend. If that required my resignation, so be it. They decided to hire another person, then eventually third person.

So, I now get to work at 8:30. I go home at 5:00. Sure, I stay late or come in early sometimes, but no more than is absolutely necessary. I tell very few people to call me outside the office - when I get home, it's to be away from work. I don't bring work home with me. If this has, or will, cost me a promotion or pay-raise, I feel it is worth it. Nothing is as important as my wife and (future) kids.