Time In

Time is ticking away. It can be ignored, but it can't be helped.

Moments and minutes with kids become memories. More moments and minutes are worth fighting for and savoring. But there is work to do in order to give them the best life, a conflict that when studied in Australia (as reported by The Canberra Times) showed that, "About 50 per cent of middle-aged men wanted to work fewer hours, she said, but were trapped into thinking that they needed to work long hours to have a good career and provide for the family."

It is true that dads may have more opportunities to spend time with their kids than many people think. Even divorced dads have the opportunities to spend more time with their kids than they sometimes take, although it is important that they be willing to work time with their children out in court with their former partner rather than spend more pleasant time sitting around beers with the boys complaining about not being with their kids.

On the one hand find the balance in your life. So that it can even make sense that you celebrate the surprising love you have with your daughter, as journalist Ed Gordon does, by heading off on a national tour away from her. On the other, remember the balance of your kids' lives as they want more time with you.

Of course, even as the hands on the clock keeps moving and taking time away from you and your offspring, there are still going to be moments when you just need to get away if only to enjoy coming back: