Kids vs Happiness

I've been terrible at blogging lately. I don't have a good excuse. But I have been commuting to work 7 hours each way each week and being away from my family has really cut my writing material down. Honestly, the most interesting things that happen to me each week are related to my role as a husband and father.

Case and point: last week when I was leaving home to make my drive back to work my wife prayed that I'd be safe and not have an accident. Lynlee as soon as the prayer was over looked puzzled and said, "Dad are you worried about having a pee accident on the drive or a car accident?" I promptly answered "yes!" You know how men are on the open road, they can't be bothered to stop for anything!

I had an interesting experience driving home this weekend, I stopped in to SubWay for a foot long sub. All the sitting in the car really works up an appetite! While I was enjoying my Spicy Italian (the sub people!), a news study came on the radio about family life. Some Harvard geniuses (I'm using a sarcastic tone in my mind) found that a married couple's happiness drops significantly when they have a child. They also found that the couple's happiness continues to drop with each additional child.

If this study is true, and if you know anything about studies that is a big if, I think it is very sad. I admit my life was simpler when it was just me and my lovely wife. I only had one other birthday to remember and I was fortune to marry someone born on the same day as myself. That took a lot of work and planning let me tell you! But seriously, there is no greater joy than a loving family life.

Now that I am away from my family during the week, I realize how much joy they do bring me. I really miss each of them and long to be with them. I wonder if that Harvard study was run by a team of happily married researchers with lots of well taught children? Hmmm, probably not! Sounds like a case of ever learning and never coming to a knowledge of the truth.