Happy Day but sad

christmas is a time to be merry and happy

but feel really sad ... my eldest son got engaged today in south africa .... could not be there

then, reflecting on how things are going, I work way too hard (7 days per week), and spend way too little quality time with the wife and other two teenagers ...

In summer, I leave home early morning, and get home when it's pitch dark

need to review the whole situation and change things in the new year ... kids are growing up so fast, and I Know I am missing an important time in their lives

perhaps time to stop being greedy and chasing money... and accept that I'm poor, but need to spend quality time with those who need me

:(

 

Yes, take stock, Dim because if one person in your little unit isn't too happy it could upset the whole apple cart.

Aim for a high standard of living and let the rest go.

I don't take holidays away (either abroad or in this country), preferring instead to have that time at home, i have a good standard of living because of the savings i make from of it.

Over the past decade or so people think that getting away on holiday is the only/best way to unwind ..... i disagree !
The way to unwind is to be in and around the place/people you cherish.

 

Sad to say that I too was like that....strive for more cash at the expense of my family life. How I wish I could turn the clock back.
Now I'm there for them at the drop of a hat.

 

Thanks Louise

sometimes, one needs to look around and forget about money, as there are more important issues

I need to spend more quality time with the family ... so nice to see the kids with their mates laughing and joking ....

I see that, feel happy and feel sad at the same time, as I know I have missed out on some good times with them

feel like I've missed out on lots ... problem is I have always worked 7 days a week (even when I was in engineering and making very good money)... and have always given them the best I can afford

maybe I am getting old and starting to grow up at the same time

think from January I will take off saturdays and sundays and spend more time with those close to me

 

You are a true Grafter Dim Is there NO Chance you can See your Boy on line?? on one of them web cam thingys?? Time to Slow Down My Mate!!! Try Just Try and treet every Day like its Your Last Day on earth!!! That way you will get the most of your Day!!! My thoughts Prairs and best wishes come to you and your Famerlie Dim at this Diffecult time Make Time For YOU!!! Take Time For You!!! That way your Famerlie Get that Presus Time to Spend with you Happy Christmas Bud Chin Up Tomorrow brings a Brand new day God willing may 2012 Deliver you wot your Hart Desiers Regards Nick :merryC: I COR SPELL AND FOR THAT I DOA CARE!!!

 

Absolutely right, very much the same here....

 

Saturdays and Sundays off are a definate must Dim, always keep those 2 days as non-negotiable days off because they're precious.

As you remember i too am self employed and it's soooo easy to keep working and watching the bank balance going up and up because we don't have the luxury of someone else paying us sick leave and holiday pay - but there comes a time/point when you do grow up and tell yourself that things must change or an awful lot is going to pas us by.

It seems like quite a few of us have had this conversation with ourselves.

 

Having worked non stop for 37 years I finally learned how to relax and enjoy life ... all I can say for working all those years is that it did give me the money to do things now that I didn't do before but I did not have children (by choice) to support which must be difficult.

I truly hope you find time to have with your family Dim and enjoy those moments .. because they are never guaranteed.

All the best to you in 2012.

 

Spend the time with the family Dim, before you know it they've up and gone.

Remember the Harry Chapin song.

 

That's a great song and so poignant.

 

Dim, first it is a good thing you realize this in your life. And second there really are truly lots of "things" we don't need to spend our money on and still be happy and comfortable.
Shame you have to work 7 days a week, and so many long hours. Does your wife work, does your girls work?
I know I started a part-time job when I was 13, then full time at 18, my parents gave me no money then. In fact at 18 I started giving them some money.
Presently I work about 50 hours a week out side of the home. Yes, I don't have children, but husband does get pissed often as I come home at 8PM quite often. But my job, that is the nature of it.

 

(Just for the record, "Pissed" in American English means angry)

 

will definately slow down in the new year ...

will be getting additional help to sort the mundane jobs such as mowing etc ... (hence my recent purchases of 2nd hand mowers)

I also have another small company running that does cleaning (domestic/commercial), and will hire more people to manage that ... nice earner and fills in nicely when gardening grinds to a halt in winter

I want to stick to garden landscaping on 3D cad (the planning and planting)... thats the part that interests me the most

 

I think, what it boils down to is, it's easy to take your eye off the ball. I guess to some it might be a cliche when people say to put the family first, but once the years go by, and they've all grown up, it's easy to have regrets, "If only" springs to mind......