Time. The one thing every parent wants more of. You want to devote every waking moment of your life to your kids, but you know that there are other needs and obligations that you have to meet. I’m lucky to spend as much time as I do with my 4-year-old Max, but I feel the pull of other demands on my time as I fight to maintain balance. It’s tricky, because I know that my other pursuits make me a better parent, even though they take me away from direct parenting.
I can only imagine the degree of stress that a dad like Justin Trudeau is under. His kids are 3 and 5, so he’s seeing the same creativity and growth in his kids that I’m seeing with Max, and it makes spending time with them wonderful. Justin’s job as an MP has already taken time away from his family, and running in the leadership race would keep him away from home for months.I think I understand how difficult the decision to run, or not to run, must be. He wants to give his children the best of himself, to nurture and care for them and share the experience of learning about the world and themselves. He wants to care for and support his wife, and share the work involved in raising two young children. He wants to be there for them.
But he also knows that dads have a duty to do the work that needs doing. He knows that dads have to help make the world a better place, not just for their own kids, but for all kids. Dads have to set the example. Dads have to lead.
It’s a hard choice to make, especially with the massive crowd of people asking and pleading with him to run, and I won’t add my voice to that. I support Justin, no matter what decision he makes. And if his travels take him to southwestern Ontario, Max and I would be glad to host a playdate for the kids.
Chris Loblaw, Author 