Balancing Work, Fatherhood, and Culture
A working dad reflects on fatherhood, a surprise work trip, and insights from India’s labor force
This week has been a whirlwind—not exactly shocking for anyone clocking in at a 9-to-5, but the kickoff to Q2 at work has hit like a freight train. Swamped doesn’t even begin to cover it. I’ve been buried in deadlines and deliverables, doing my best to keep my head above water. And yet, even amid the chaos, I’m holding tight to what really matters—quality time with Jasper.
There’s something grounding about being with him after a long day. Watching him explore the world with wide eyes and curious hands makes me appreciate, on a whole new level, everything my parents did for me. Both of them came from executive corporate backgrounds, and growing up, they always seemed larger-than-life. Now I wonder how they ever found time to just be with me. And here I am, trying to strike the same impossible balance.
Next week threw a bit of a curveball—I’ve got a surprise work trip to Minnesota. I knew about the meetings, but wasn’t supposed to go until Friday. Now it’s a whole thing. I won’t complain though—anything to escape the endless Ohio rain for a few days. Still, I’ll miss Jasper and my partner like crazy.
Speaking of Jasper, this week has been… eventful. He’s been rolling around like a little adventurer, even taking a tumble off the couch at one point. My heart stopped—but to his credit (and my immense relief), he managed to catch himself with his feet and land in a kind of awkward little sit. Not ideal, but hey, dad points for staying calm. He’s growing fast and turning into a full-on explorer—we’ve got our hands full.
But there was a moment that made the whole rainy week worthwhile. Just as the clouds started to break, a rainbow arched across the sky—and Jasper saw his very first one. We stood by the front door, the two of us quietly watching. I don’t know who was more in awe—probably me—but it was one of those small, perfect memories I’ll hold onto forever. The kind you don’t get back if you blink too long.
Lately, I’ve also been doing a lot of reading—trying to expand my understanding of other cultures and ways of thinking. One article in particular really stuck with me: “The 500 Million Worker Problem” from India Dispatch. It hit home in a personal way. My partner is from India, and I now have extended family there through marriage. The piece dives into the economic and structural challenges facing India’s massive informal workforce—500 million people operating without the kind of protections or stability we often take for granted.
What struck me most was how sharply divided the country can be. India often feels like two different nations stitched together: the more developed, tech-driven south and the traditionally poorer, agrarian north. That duality isn’t always obvious to outsiders. Sometimes I wish more writing like this provided regional context—for a global audience, that nuance can be everything. It’s one thing to read about inequality in the abstract; it’s another when it echoes through your own family.
So yeah, busy week. But beneath the emails and the rain, the couch tumbles and cultural rabbit holes, I’m trying to stay present. These moments with Jasper, these little bursts of joy and discovery—they’re the real milestones.
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