Week 3: It’s Monday and I’m running a little behind schedule. We are in a mad morning rush to get the kids out the door. I drop off the 14-year-old at the high school, loop around and drop off the 12-year-old at the middle school. With five minutes to spare I approach the train station. I check my rearview mirror and notice the little guy is still strapped into the backseat. “What are you still doing here?” I ask. “You forgot to drop me off!” he responds. I honestly consider taking him into work with me for the day. But that won’t work. I frantically call the office to have some appointments rescheduled and fly back to the grammar school in the hope that at least one of us isn’t late.

Every week that goes by, my husband and I are noticing an unexpected side effect of both of us working—the children, especially the 12- and 14-year-old, are maturing into responsible young men. When my 14-year-old walked out the door one morning with his Joe Boxer flannel pj’s on, I asked, “Where are your pants?” He said, “I don’t have any clean clothes but that’s OK, these are comfortable.” We went to the basement that evening and I showed him how to do his own laundry.

I am enjoying the time I have with my children in the morning, and I truly believe they are getting a kick out of watching me figure this out. I find my days are much more productive when I am at work, and I have learned to prioritize and make the best use of my time— being the CEO gives you complete control of your schedule, instead of client breakfast meetings, I try to schedule quick coffee meetings, instead of responding to every email, I prioritize better and make better use of my commute home—even if that means a quick cat nap before the homework madness begins.

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