双语：怎么兼顾工作与家庭

The question

I am one of three directors at a small consultancy. I work long hours and travel extensively. I love my job - it is interesting and well paid - but miss spending time with my two young sons. I have decided to take six weeks' non-paid leave in the summer but don't know how to convince my fellow directors that my enthusiasm and determination have not diminished. Both of them are very career-minded and are focused on becoming millionaires as soon as possible.

难题我是一家中小型顾问公司的三个执行董事*。我要工作很长期、四处公出。我很喜欢我工作（既趣味、挣的又多），可是不可以花时间跟2个幼年的大儿子在一起。我已经决策为自己放一个历时六周的无薪暑期，却不清楚该怎么让此外俩位执行董事相信自己的激情和信心沒有分毫衰减系数。她们俩位全是十分顾工作中的人，一心只为尽早变富。

LUCY'S ANSWER

There's no point in trying to convince them your dedication has not changed. It has changed： you are no longer dedicated enough to work during summer as you'd rather see your children.

不必尝试让她们相信你的敬业精神沒有更改，这沒有什么意义。它早已更改了：在夏季，你已不会向工作中资金投入充足的活力，由于你更想看见自身的小孩。

It sounds as if you're guilty of the worst sort of parental thinking - the sort that supposes you can both have a workaholic job and be an involved father， and that your work mates should somehow be supportive of whatever you decide to do. To you， your sons are precious. To your directors， they are a nuisance.

听起来，你好像有那类做父母者最槽糕的念头——自以为是既能有着一份夜以继日的工作中，又能当一个合格的爸爸，并且你的工作中小伙伴还应当在一定水平上支持你的一切决策。对你而言，你的大儿子十分珍贵；对你的执行董事们而言，她们便是一个不便。

I suggest that you present it to them in a different， truer light. Tell them that your job still matters to you very much although there are other things that matter to you as well.

我建议你用此外一种更真正的方法向她们阐述这件事情。告知她们，你的工作中对你而言依然实际意义重特大，可是也有一些对你而言也一样关键的事。

Maybe you should suggest that， when the time comes to sell the business and become millionaires， you take a slightly smaller share - pro rata with the reduced effort that you've put in.

我建议你用此外一种更真正的方法向她们阐述这件事情。告知她们，你的工作中对你而言依然实际意义重特大，可是也有一些对你而言也一样关键的事。

The real test will not be how the first discussion goes but how the six weeks works in practice. I have my doubts on this. First， unless yours is a company that goes all sluggish in the summer， you will miss a lot in six weeks. Second， having a huge helping of domesticity once a year may prove indigestible for you and your sons.

事实上，真实的磨练并不是最开始的研讨会有哪些結果，只是这六周能开什么作用。我对于此事深表猜疑。*，除非是你的企业在暑假的进度十分迟缓，要不然，你也就会在六周里错过了很多东西。次之，一年一次帮助做很多家务活，你与你的儿子最终很有可能都不适合。

If I were you， I'd try something more flexible. Say that you want to go home early one day a week. Then you can see your sons for a bit and do some more work after they have gone to bed. Your best hope for a harmonious solution is if both of the other directors swiftly have children of their own and start to feel just as torn as you do now.

如果我是你，我也会试着一些更灵便的作法。例如，每星期有一天早点回家。那样的话，你可以看一会儿你的大儿子，还能在她们唾觉之后做大量的工作中。你可以寄希望于的最和睦的解决方案莫过：别的的执行董事快速拥有自身的小孩，并刚开始像你如今一样体会难熬。