I Like Having You Around More
Last week as I putting my son to bed, he said to me, “I like having you around more.” As I walked out of his bedroom, I was overcome with emotion.
Back in November, I made a tough decision to step away from my job to spend more time with my kids. I was struggling trying to “have it all” as a single dad. Most dads face this struggle, but few talk about it. It is almost never covered in the media.
How many of you remember when Anne-Marie Slaughter penned the article Why Women Still Can’t Have It All in The Atlantic back in the summer of 2012? The response on social media was amazing. It sparked an awesome debate, becoming one of the most popular articles in The Atlantic’s history with more than 2.7 million views.
Just like Anne, I felt like I couldn’t have it all. Two days a week, I was leaving the office by 4pm so I could get home to my kids. The second I walked in door, it was game on: baths>dinner>books>songs>bedtime. Once the kids were asleep, it was time to tidy up the house. Around 9pm, I could finally sit down. Most nights I opened my computer and continued to work for a few more hours. I was very thankful NerdWallet gave me the flexibility to leave early and go home to be with my kids. In return, I wanted to hold up my end of the bargain. That meant working hard and delivering solid results.
I tried to have it all, but it felt like I was constantly one step behind. I was working my butt off. I was trying to be the best Dad I could be but it felt like I was failing in both areas.
When I stepped away from my job, I intended to take 3 to 6 months off and focus on my kids. I knew it was the right thing to do, and I was looking forward to slowing down. I didn’t want to feel like I was failing any more. I looked forward to reading books at nap time. I looked forward to taking my kids to breakfast and being more present in their lives.
What happened next caught me off guard. In early November, a good buddy sent me an email telling me about an innovative company and why he thought I would be a good fit for them. He had no idea I was stepping away from my job. I told him and he still encouraged me to chat with the company. Two days later I was speaking with the VP of Marketing at Pindrop.
Why Pindrop? Pindrop is already doing great things, and I’m really excited about the company’s future vision. The cherry on top is that I get to work from home for this role. As the new Head of Global Communications, I will be focused on building out a team from scratch and building a global brand. This may be my most ambitious, challenging role yet. At the same time, if I don’t have meeting at 1pm, I will be able to step out of my home office and read my son and daughter a few books before their naps.
It has been eight weeks since I left my previous job. I am now three weeks into my new job. When my son said, “I like having you around more,” he didn’t realize I had gone back to work. That makes me think that maybe I can have it all.
We are now living in a time when dads can express their desire to have it all. I’m proud to be part of this generation of dads trying to have it all: school drops off, books at nap time, and a successful career.
