How do you treat your family?

So I am in an office across town today, getting some work done and waiting to meet with a client.  While I am writing in my journal and getting my notes ready for my meeting, I am overhearing a phone conversation by a lady who works in that office.  What really stands out to me is her friendly demeanor and lengthy, thorough conversation with her client.  I was thinking to myself, she really does a good job taking care of her clients.  She was very careful to cover every detail of the clients questions, and she made sure that the client understood everything.  She finished the conversation by setting up a meeting with the client for tomorrow, and was very pleasant, like she was talking with an old friend.

What really shocked me (maybe it shouldn’t have) was how she handled the next phone call she received.  It was from one of her children.  Her tone changed immediately.  It took a 180 degree turn and she was short, curt, rude and downright mean.  Her child was asking for a ride to a friends house later today (mind you I could only hear the woman in the office, not the other end of the line, but it was pretty clear what was going on).  Upon being asked she became irate,  even swearing (___ christ) at her child.  She then explained why she was so mad, “It’s just that you are always asking for things.”   She huffed, sighed and ranted her way through the conversation, then left.  Presumably to go give her child a ride.

It was a classic example of someone who treats their clients and total strangers better than her own family.  Very sad.  It made me sad for her kids, and it left me wondering how many of us sometimes forget what’s really important in our lives.  Our family is the most important thing in our lives.  Be sure to treat them at least as good as a total stranger, if not better!  Show how much they mean to you, be kind, loving and patient with them.  Don’t throw them aside to make way for your serious, professional life.  I remember Donald Trump many years ago saying he always took calls from his kids.  Even if he was in the middle of important meetings or negotiations.  Family comes first.

How do you treat your family? 

Tags: dad, dadsworld, Donald trump, family, kindness, love, mom, parenting, stranger