Let's include men in the conversation!

So all of these conversations about work/life balance are great - but they leave me wondering, where are the men? Why are we leaving them out of the conversation? Our fathers, our husbands, our brothers, our sons, and the future husbands and fathers of this world - where are they? Not including them in this essential question is a gaping hole. So how do we begin?

First, let's talk about now. When looking at the balance in our lives, let's talk to the males in our lives today and figure it out together. Not only can they help us get balance, but we can help them as well. Who doesn't want healthier spouses, partners, support systems? Who doesn't want that role model for our children? Who doesn't want husbands and partners who are present at family time and want to be actively engaged? Including them in the work/life balance conversation is important for all of us.

Second, let's look at our future. Whenever we focus on one thing and neglect another, we may not pay for it now, but tomorrow is another story. By including the men in our lives in this conversation now, we enrich all of our family lives today and beyond. Today's sons are tomorrow's husbands and fathers. Don't we want the best for them as well? Don't we want them to treat themselves well and enjoy the fruits of their labor? Don't we want them to be happy, loving members of their families? Don't we want them to treat our daughters well?

So this seemingly unattainable thing called work or professional/life balance - yes, we can have it all. Let's keep in mind who "we" are and not forget that team work makes dreams work!

Yes We Can Have it All And More: In the pursuit of having it all, what does "all" r...

Yes We Can Have it All And More: In the pursuit of having it all, what does "all" r...: Can we have it all? I often hear this and wonder, can I? Then I think, of course! I can do anything! That's what my parents always told ...

In the pursuit of having it all, what does "all" really mean?

Can we have it all? I often hear this and wonder, can I? Then I think, of course! I can do anything! That's what my parents always told me, and I believed them. But the message out there is that we can't, that I can't, that it's impossible. Last year Ann-Marie Slaughter hit me over the head with this in her very well-known and controversial article in the July/August 2012 issue of The Atlantic - "Why Women Still Can't Have It All?" Wow! No point in reading any further - I cannot have it all! Whack upside the head, you idiot!

I'm always up for a good challenge, though, so time to find a solution! Think, think, think. What does having it all really mean? Does it mean being CEO of a start up while raising 3 perfectly well-mannered children and getting a home-made meal on the table every night while training for the Iron Man along with serving on the board of several high-profile volunteer community organizations in my free time? Is that having it all for me? What does "all" really mean?

As I ponder this for me, please think about this for you as well and share your thoughts. No one size fits all, and we just may learn from one another.