The last office-based job I had was a in cube farm for a company that poorly managed people and the projects. Schedules were very rigid, so it was really hard to even work through a chronic pain condition.

I’d love to see more organizations adopt flexible scheduling practices to allow people to work when their most productive. When you know on certain days in your cycle that you’ll have trouble standing upright for the morning, even being able to start the work day later is a blessing, and will pay off in productivity.

By the time I met them, he was working in mechanical engineering, and she was working as a retail consultant. They met while in college and married shortly thereafter. As they told their story, neither of them was really interested in having kids, because each was interested in his/her own carreer. He was doing well with in engineering firm, and she had ventured out and started her own consulting firm. She would tell anyone who would listen how much she loved her work. I knew David better than I knew Diana, and he often related how much satisfaction she took from her work. She, from what I knew of her, was not prone to exaggeration.

They weren’t expecting Diana to become pregnant. I was not privy to the details of why, but I remember what a surprise it was for both of them–they were in their mid-30s. The first few months were really tough on them, but they worked through it. David had told me how concerned his wife was that the baby would affect their relationship, and how she worried about the imapact on her business. I had a few children and my own business by that time (though I acknowledged that the coming of the kids did not impact me as much as it did my wife), so I did my best to assuage his fears.

As the time drew near, she made plans to take a six-week hiatus from her business, and they started searching for a nanny. The delivery itself was uneventful–no complications. Their first child was a little girl.

Diana later told us that something changed when she saw her daughter. She “bonded” with the child in a way I can’t understand even though I am the father of nine children. She said that the thought of going back to work and leaving her child with a nanny made her feel ill. When the six weeks were over, she worked with her clients to transition out of the business. She fulfilled short-term obligations and she relinquished her long-term arrangements (one of which, David told me, cost them quite a bit to exit). Since it was a consultancy, I asked why she didn’t just keep it going part time (I couldn’t imagine giving up the income). She told me that, once the baby was born, her heart was no longer at work.

They went on to have another child before we lost track of them. [We both moved during the same year, to different cities, and we lost track of each other. That was my fault, really, as I’m horrible at keeping in touch.] The last I heard from someone in our former home, they had three children and were living somewhere in one of the southern states.

I’ve known a lot of women who have opted to leave work when baby arrived, and, as you’ve stated, most of them choose to do so for a variety of reasons. For those with dreadful jobs, it was an easy decision. Of those, I’ve seen many of them re-enter the workforce at various times. Diana was one of a handful who felt a real conviction about being a mother first and foremost. Had I been in her position, I’d have probably not done what she did.

While not in the majority any longer, I’ve known a few of them over the years, and they all were/are extraordinary women.

While I find all your points to be very valid, however the foundation of any strong relationship is a solid partnership. Being an entrepreneur is all about innovation, discipline, and handwork. If approach the romantic side of your relationship the same way you approach the business side you can have your cake and eat it to (ala mode in my case). We work equally as hard at out relationship to keep things separate by setting ground rules about our interactions outside the work place. Our number one rule is no business talk in bed! Number two, only one person can have a melt down at a time. And trust me, there is a lot of melting in this business. All relationships are work, job descriptions are assigned, and responsibilities need to be met, whether you are in business together or not. Creativity and business evokes tones of passion and integrates a more complex degree of trust and respect.

Sure, I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss the days of yearning all day to see my boyfriend after a hard days work. That being together 24/7 on an island no less is not difficult, but working towards our dream, building something together, comforting each other through the hard times, and watching it succeed is an amazing feeling and brings us closer together.

I watched the show last night and found the couple George Cloutier and Tiffany Spadafora very depressing. For one thing, it shows money can buy anything, and, Tiffany HAS been bought. For another thing, what’s up with the 5-year “engagement” ? If they really loved each other, why is it being dragged out now for 5 years? He’s certainly not getting any younger, and, she has a biological clock ticking like all women…it just seems that all she is is an accessory to this man, and yet they both claim to be “so happy.” I don’t buy it. I think she’s busy pacifying him, appeasing him, providing sex, I’m sure, but in the end I don’t think she’s getting what she deserves–an offer of marriage, the possibility of children, and some kind of life of her own. She’s not even a “trophy wife” ! And with his millions, he really needs to review her wardrobe budget? I don’t know, the whole thing made me ill. Just my opinion, of course.

You’re welcome. I like that you tell readers things others don’t have the guts to say. You made good points. I don’t have cable so I didn’t catch you on TV — I hope it went well. p