I recently came across a discussion that struck a chord—dads contemplating stepping back from work, even slightly, to be more present for their kids. Some dropped a day a week, others reduced hours, and a few even made full career shifts to be home more. The overwhelming sentiment? No one regretted it.
One dad put it best: "You’ll remember the time with your kids, you won’t remember the extra day at work. Kids will be thankful you spent time with them, bosses won’t."
Another shared: "I was that kid. My parents both worked 4-day weeks, so I had Mondays with Dad and Fridays with Mom. I can still remember the little routines I had with each of them. I’m still very close with them today."
The Many Ways Dads Are Making It Work
Some dads found creative ways to balance financial stability with more family time:
- Condensed work weeks: "I moved to a 9-day fortnight, and it barely impacted my take-home pay but gave me a whole extra day with my son."
- Switching to remote work: "I took a job with less pay but more flexibility—best decision ever. Now I pick my kid up from school, and we have time together every day."
- Cutting expenses instead of time: "We planned ahead, reduced our lifestyle a little, and made it work. No regrets."
- Utilizing leave creatively: "I used long service leave at half pay for nearly a year, and I got to see my baby’s key developmental milestones."
- Flexible employment arrangements: "I took a flexi-hours role that allows me to start early and be home by 3:30 every day. It’s a game changer."
For many, the trade-off was clear: "What’s the point of saving and investing for the future if it means missing out on my child’s early years?"
The Challenges & Adjustments
Of course, it’s not all easy. Some dads warned about career slowdowns and financial adjustments:
- "There’s a significant amount of pressure on men to keep providing. Many women scale back for a bit, and when dads do it, they get side-eye at work. But if you plan well, it’s worth it."
- "Be careful—once you’ve tasted that extra day, it’s really hard to go back to five a week."
- "My workplace allowed me to reduce my hours, but when it came to performance reviews and bonuses, I was still being evaluated as if I were working full-time."
- "It took a mental shift to accept living on a lower income for a while, but once I did, I realized we were just fine."
Yet, despite these challenges, most dads agreed it was worth it. One dad framed it this way: "Over a year, one day a week means 45 extra days with my child. By the time they’re 11, that’s an entire extra year spent together. That’s worth way more than a little lost income."
The Long-Term Impact
Dads who made this shift shared how it changed not just their relationship with their children but also their entire approach to work and life:
- "I thought I was doing this for my kid, but honestly, I’m happier too. I feel more balanced, less burned out, and more connected to my family."
- "My wife appreciated it as much as my child did. It made parenting feel more like a true partnership."
- "It’s given me a fresh perspective on what actually matters. Climbing the corporate ladder seems way less important now."
- "The bond I built with my son is something I wouldn’t trade for any promotion or pay raise."
Advice for Dads Considering It
For the dads who took the leap, their advice was simple:
- If you can afford it, do it. "You can always make more money later. You’ll never get this time back."
- Start small. "If you’re hesitant, try reducing just one day a fortnight and see how it feels."
- Have a plan. "Talk to your employer, look at your finances, and make sure your family is aligned."
- Expect mixed reactions. "Your boss might not love it, but your kids will. That’s what matters."
For the dads who did this—how did you make it work? And for those considering it—what’s holding you back?
