Would You Work As Hard If No Children?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
same. became much more efficient and organized once kid 2 came. at home and at work. |
Anonymous
| I worked VERY hard before I had kids to establish myself (as a government attorney). Now, I'm a 40 hours a week person and leaning out.... not going for any additional responsibilities, details, or new positions. I am 10x more exhausted as a parent working only 40 hours a week than back when I was childfree and working nights and weekends. |
Anonymous
+10000 |
Anonymous
| I started working smarter when I had kids because there's less time. I also became more organized. I don't think I'll work harder if there's no pressure of having to provide to the kids. |
Anonymous
However, I would have probably taken better care of myself and work out more. |
Anonymous
+1 Before kids, work (Biglaw) was for fun and to buy expensive things. Now it matters way more. |
Anonymous
+1 to both. Irony is - gotten 2 promotions since having a child 2.5 years ago...not sure what that says! |
Anonymous
| Having kids is very hard work. If I didn’t, I would have more time and energy to devote to my job. I currently have a cushy, 9-5 not so challenging desk job. I would love to take on something more challenging but because of the kids, it’s impossible for me to do so. I’m good friends with a couple who doesn’t have kids. Wife has my dream job and was able to achieve so much in her career. However she travels a lot and that won’t work with kids. |
Anonymous
| Having kids has pushed me to look for more well-paying positions. But it also resulted in me going part-time for a number of years, and now that I have ramped back up, keeps me from going “all in” in the way I would like to. Without kids, i would likely be working longer hours and definitely would be saying yes to more travel and evening networking-type events than I am able to now. |
Anonymous
Same. I would’ve been a partner in my firm. Making three times what I make now and retire at 55. |
Anonymous
| Depends how you define working hard. I care about my career, so I would give my work my best effort, but I would naturally care less about making a lot of money because I wouldn’t have a child to support. |
Anonymous
|
As the breadwinner, yes- having kids has made me work harder.
After my first kid, I became more serious at work. Focused and worked harder when I was there. Wasted less time. It was noticed by my bosses and I was promoted to VP the year after I had my child. and I had another child. Several years later I had surprise twins. I was downsized with severance 3 months after I returned from maternity leave. I freaked out. I thought, OMG, I have to find another job asap. I have 4 kids to support. I put 110% into job search, found a so so job, but then got a new job with great promotion the next year, making more than double my pay. We had lots of savings. Many people would have taken a break to relax, but I didn't feel that was an option for me. So, for me, being the breadwinner with 4 kids definitely pushed me to work harder and achieve more than I ever thought possible. |
Sammy76
Member Offline
Member Offline
Yep...reminds me of a guy I knew who retired from outsides sales. His boss would shadow several coworkers but never him. He asked why and the boss said, you've got a house full of kids, I know you're working hard. Looking back, being responsible for a child would have freaked me out and I know for sure I wouldn't have coasted through life, living here and there, like a college kid on summer break. Sadly, I can see how that would have probably made me a more well rounded and mature person. That's not to say childless people are not responsible or mature. |