I was out of town and caught an episode of “Supernanny.”  I’ve enjoyed watching that show the few times I have seen it, and I sometimes pull a few parenting gems from it.  The episode I watched was about a family that had three, out-of-control kids, and I mean, OUT-OF-CONTROL.

The family had a full-time nanny, both parents worked, and this house was in turmoil—unhappy kids, unhappy parents and a marriage that was struggling.  What I found so interesting was that despite the fact that nothing was working, the parents never seemed to entertain the idea that one of them needed to be at home.  I was blown away.

They lived in a very, very expensive home and drove very nice cars. That house and those cars were the financial drain that eliminated the choice to have one of them to stay at home.  So, in reality, they chose work, financial success, and possessions over the well being of their family.

Now I may sound harsh, but I was pissed.  Those kids and that family deserved more of what they truly needed—time, and devotion to the things that mattered more than the “stuff.”

I find myself the busiest that I have ever been with the launch of ONO, but I make it a point to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner with my family and to have play time in the evening.  Saturdays and Sundays are all family.  I go back into the office after everyone is asleep in the evenings.  I’m definitely burning the candle out both ends right now, but I have family first rules that I hold myself to.

I would encourage you to set some rules for yourself that keep you family first.  Don’t make yourself vulnerable to having money make decisions for you and your family by spending it all.

If the out-of-control family had had extra money set aside and had chosen to live in a smaller home, they may have had the option to keep one of them at home to give the kids what they needed, which was their parents’ full time and attention.