If ever there were a song that I actively hate, it’s ‘Cat’s in the cradle’ by Harry Chapin (go look it up if you want to download it). The song paints a dire picture of a father/son relationship where the father is a driven, career obsessed man who never has time for his son and the son, only knowing that kind of affection, grows up and slights his father constantly.

Yes, it was a generation ago, yes it was the stoic, career obsessed Boomers purposefully ignoring their gen-x kiddies but it really has haunted me as a parent, even so in the morass of the thirties. What frustrates me is that the song sets up a false choice; career or family. What’s even more frustrating and lie filed is those who have chosen a career closer to family are penalized when work beckons them during a particular season.

So I’m declaring war on lies; lies of guilt when you have to work, lies that fail to separate longing for a friend with a perception of lack of care and promoting the freedom to just spend time with your kids and enjoy the amazing people that they are.