"Make friends with your children"

A young father asks Saint Josemaria about how to "face this dilemma" we all have with regard to balancing work and family.

Clip from a get-together with Saint Josemaria during his catechetical trip to Chile.

Father, some of us find, at the end of the afternoon, that we feel we ought to keep on working, to make the most of the calmest time of the day, and also that we ought to go home and spend time with our kids, living family life. What do you suggest we should do, to act well and do what God wants, faced with this dilemma?

The most important business that you have is raising your children... Make friends with your children, that’s the best advice of all.

I know that in this country you men are very practical, and you really want to do what is most important. And the most important business that you have is raising your children. So talk to your wife about it, and to your kids. If you have to get down on all fours with the little ones, you start playing with trains, or toy soldiers - they don’t make lead soldiers any more! It’s a shame! And… make friends with your children, that’s the best advice of all. All of you who are still small, the best friend you have is mom, even if she sometimes gets mad, and if she does, it’s your fault, and the other best friend you have is dad.