Back To Work

In as much as work is job and I get that there is a difference between it and "fun", I have to admit that there are times when I don't mind going to work. That's especially true when there is a lot of chaotic nonsense going on at home. In a professional organization you would think that so much would be out of my control and to some extent that is true at work. However at work there are distinct rules, written or otherwise, that deal with how people inter-relate and how work is dispensed. At home the rules are much more complex; simply telling your children that they need to pick up after themselves is different that giving someone an assignment at the office, mainly because at work that task is far more likely to be completed.

Then there is the feeling of oppression. No, I don't feel that at work. However, there are times when it seems that some folks at home feel oppressed for whatever reason. This is despite all of the freebies that come with this existence, such as cell phone service, high-speed Internet service, video games, vehicles to drive, etc. These things are in addition to the basics that are provided, such as food, shelter, medical care, etc. Yes, all of that and some feel oppressed seemingly to the point of acting disgusted to towards the parental unit. Maybe I'm missing something here, as I really don't get it, not one single bit.

Now I'll go to work and yes, I do it in order to be paid, but the experience itself isn't all that bad. I have space to work in and materials to do my work. I know what's expected of me. I have some amenities that can be taken advantage of, such as savings plans, a gym, a cafeteria and the opportunity to always learn new stuff. Truth be told, it's not so bad.

What's a parent to do? I know, some ages for your children are more difficult than others, so I'm just going to have to take it on faith than the current bumps in the parental road will eventually pass. They have to, and the remarkable part is that it will happen no matter what. Yes, despite my apparent Ogre-esque reputation as a parent...how dare I ask that the 6 towels be picked up from the TV room...how dare I insist that my children actually think about the long-term consequences of their actions today...I know that eventually they do grow up, even if they don't want to. The best I can do is to be honest, instill a sense for working hard, try to make the best decisions possible, try to provide sound advice when I can and hope that the combination of it all yields a productive adult at the other end of the pipeline. Nice analogy, but it does seem that things get stuck in this pipe an awful lot lately.