Is Quality Time a Myth?

by Dale Harcombe | More from this Blogger

18 Feb 2009 07:16 PM

Working women are you short changing your spouse and your children? When talking yesterday with Mick about the blog I'd written about working women and marriage, he came up with several comments I thought were worth noting about the amount of time spent with children in particular. Yes, we've all heard the phrase 'quality time' and how parents should spend 'quality time' with their spouse and their children. But what does this mean exactly?

The reality is that if they are working full time, the amount of time the working woman can realistically spend with their spouse and children is limited. Unless they have paid help, much of that time the woman is racing around in the mornings trying to get husband off to work children off to school and off to work themselves. It's hardly 'quality time.'

Then in the evenings it is a repeat only in reverse. Children and the husband are tired after their day. But so is the wife. Getting meals and baths and homework organized before bedtime can turn into a time fraught with fractious children and tired parents - hardly quality time.

Of course, the further away from their work the husband and wife live, the longer the day and the more stress this puts on parents and on the kids since other arrangements must be made for their care after school or pre-school hours. It is especially important in the under fives which are the most critical years of a child's development. Grandparents, if they live close enough, are often co-opted to fill in the breach.

Then comes the weekend and it's a time of trying to catch up on all the jobs not done during the week, maybe cooking meals for the week ahead or shopping or cleaning. So, once again it's not quality time to relax and enjoy being with the husband and children. This is all without allowing for anything such as a hobby or time with friends. It's not rocket science to suggest the stress is going to start to show not just one the wife but the husband and children as well.

So, for the working women, is quality time with spouse and children a myth? If not, then how do you head off or overcome the obvious problems?

Please visit these related blogs

Working Women a Contributing Factor in Marriage and Family Break-Ups

What Value Do You Put on Family?

Quality Time:What Does That Mean?

Grandparents Are You Being Fair?

Recesssion Effects on Marriage - Your Choice

Saving Money on Groceries When You Both Work

Learn more about Dale Harcombe

Dale has a passion for books and writing. She writes in various forms, from articles to poetry to fiction for children and adults.

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stayathomelawyer (5) 19 Mar 2009 10:41 PM

I think in today's times, quality time for a lot of working women (and men, for that matter) isn't so much a myth as a delusion. Until you know what it's like to actually have time for your spouse and children, you won't even realize that you never had true quality time.

Dale Harcombe (10327) 20 Mar 2009 11:44 AM

Thanks for your comments. Interesting way of looking at it.